Santa Paula approves splitting affordable housing project into two parcels

The Santa Paula City Council approved on Wednesday a map of an approved affordable housing project that will split the site into two parcels.

The division of the vacant 11-acre parcel at 18004 E. Telegraph Road for the Arrive Santa Paula project allows for grant funding assistance and the opportunity for the use of tax credits. An affordable housing project needs grants, loans and tax credits to make it financially work for a developer, said James Mason, community and economic development director.

Irvine-based Red Tail Multifamily Land Development LLC is proposing the project. The company is also required to dedicate some of its property for public right-of-way improvements, including utilities, easements, a sidewalk and a bus shelter, Mason said.

Ron Wu, Red Tail's director of new development, declined to answer questions about the project, saying the company does not speak to the press.

The project calls for building 298 apartment units on the two new parcels, with 166 proposed as deed-restricted affordable units on one parcel and the remaining market-rate units on the other, according to a staff report.

The affordable units are geared for very low- and low-income residents. In Ventura County, a family of four with an annual income of $106,250 is considered low income; an annual income of $66,400 is considered very-low income.

The affordable units will have 230 parking spaces and the market-rate units will have 261 spaces, according to the tentative map.

"I'm very excited that this opportunity is coming to our community," said Cynthia Salas, the president of the nonprofit Latino Town Hall in Santa Paula at the meeting. "Especially because there's a dire need for housing in our county as everyone is well aware."

Salas emphasized creating housing opportunities for farmworkers and especially those that work seasonal jobs.

"A lot of people have a model in their head of what affordable housing looks like. Well, affordable housing these days looks great," said Mayor Andy Sobel at Wednesday's meeting.

The Planning Commission decided to split the map in June and recommended the City Council uphold its decision.

Housing requirements under city code typically require a “reasonable distribution” of affordable and market-rate units to discourage the sequestering of affordable units in a lower quality building, according to a staff report. But the city now believes that as affordable housing development evolves, the financing and tax credit application process disfavors mixing market-rate with affordable units.

Aaron Dunkel, commission chair, said the commission voted for the map split unanimously.

"There are many people who would benefit from the added housing in town," he said before the City Council meeting. "Overcrowding remains a struggle for many families and communities. In addition to overcrowding, a general lack of supply has adversely affected the cost of available housing."

The council approved the parcel map with the understanding that certain infrastructure improvements are not existing and will be completed as part of the development, Mason said.

The developer must still obtain permits to proceed and complete the necessary grading, construction and stormwater improvements, according to the agenda.

Project Manager Jaren Nuzman, who works for San Juan Capistrano-based TK Consulting Inc., said during the meeting the construction portion of the project could take 19 months.

Once the city has complete plan submittals, it will have an indication of how long the plan check and building-permit process will take, Mason said.

"The clock will start after they have building permits," he said.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Santa Paula grants dividing affordable project site into two