How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution for a final parcel map for an affordable housing project and an application for state grant funds that it will use to improve the city’s processes for handling various kinds of permits.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram took to the council the final parcel map for the Lakeport Family Associates LLC tentative parcel map for the property located at 1255 Martin St., and the offer of dedication for the right of way dedications for Smith and Martin street.
The property is the location of the Martin Street affordable housing project.
Phase one, located on one of the three parcels that make up the property, now includes 24 recently completed large family affordable apartment units. There are land use entitlements approved for 48 additional large family affordable apartment units on the second parcel, according to Ingram’s report.
Ingram said the city hired a consulting surveyor to review the final parcel map, which also was reviewed by the city engineer and the Community Development Department, all of which determined that all conditions and requirements of approval were satisfied.
Staff also recommended to the council that it accept the offer of dedication for the right of way and public utility easements that includes the frontage improvements along Martin and Smith streets.
Ingram said there are still curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements to make, and the city has bonds to do the work if necessary. The hold up has been that the city was waiting to get grant funds from the state, and to begin work ahead of the money’s release meant risking losing the funds.
The council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution approving the final parcel map and accepting the right of way and easement dedications.
Ingram also presented the request to approve a resolution authorizing submittal of a grant application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development Department for Senate Bill 2 planning grants funds in the amount of $162,000.
The funds are collected under the auspices of the Building Homes and Jobs Act, or SB 2, which then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2017. Ingram’s report said SB 2 established a $75 recording fee on real estate documents to increase the supply of affordable homes in
California.
The legislation, Ingram’s written report explains, “aims to provide funding and technical assistance to all local governments in California to help cities and counties prepare, adopt, and implement plans and process improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production.”
The city’s share of the funding for this fiscal year is $162,000. Ingram said the city had a deadline of the end of November to file to claim the funds.
The city plans to use the funds to replace existing DOS-based permit tracking software with new cloud based system, and to rehabilitate existing space within City Hall to create a “one-stop permit center” for building, planning, utilities, business licensing and code enforcement, Ingram reported.
“This seems very timely and fortuitous,” said Councilman Kenny Parlet.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said the state wants cities to get the money, and some cities aren’t even bothering to apply.
“It looks pretty good for next year too,” said Ingram, noting that there could be another significant pot of money available.
Parlet moved to approve the resolution, which Councilman George Spurr seconded and the council approved 5-0.
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