Editor’s note: Updated coverage of the housing in-lieu fee discussion is available here. Other updates are available here.
The agenda for this week’s meeting of the Coronado City Council includes considering redefining the boundaries of South Beach as they relate to beach bonfires, a presentation on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and a request to revisit a past council decision on raising housing in-lieu fees. Public comment will be heard.
The meeting is at 4 p.m. on May 20 in the City Council Chamber at 1825 Strand Way, and will be broadcast here. A recording of the meeting will be posted here.
A potential update to the city’s beach bonfire rules
Last year, the City Council went through the laborious process of changing its policy on beach bonfires, balancing the recreational benefits with the concern of smoke sent to nearby residences, most notably to the Coronado Shores condominiums.
After several discussions and compromises, the following rules were imposed: Bonfires are permitted on South Beach, the narrow strip of land adjacent to the shores, but only if they are fueled by propane.
Elsewhere, beachgoers can build fires in personal or city-provided fire rings, provided that wood-fueled fires use clean-burning wood as opposed to materials like pallets. More background on the matter is covered here.
Council member Amy Steward, who was not yet on the council when the decision was made, submitted a Policy No. 9 request that the matter be placed on a future agenda for discussion.
Steward asked that the council discuss potentially amending the ordinance to define South Beach’s boundary as starting at the rock jetty at the Hotel del Coronado and extending to the Naval Amphibious Base, as opposed to starting at Avenida del Sol.
At a meeting earlier this month, the council approved Steward’s request and directed staff to bring a modified resolution for discussion. The adjusted resolution will be discussed at the May 20 meeting.
“Due to the prevailing winds, wood fires on the beach from Avenida del Sol north to the rock jetty negatively impact residents at the Coronado Shores,” Steward wrote in her request. “This clarifies the designation of South Beach and will minimize impact on Coronado Shores residents.”
Reconsidering a past council decision to raise housing in-lieu fees
At its April 15 meeting, the Coronado City Council voted to increase its housing in-lieu fee from $7,000 per unit to $59 per square foot. However, at the May 6 council meeting, several developers during public comment expressed concern at the increase, saying the sudden and steep increase would make many developments financially unfeasible and discourage development.
Because of the concern, Council Member Mark Fleming submitted a Policy No. 9 request asking that the city council discuss bringing the matter back to be reconsidered at a future meeting. The vote at the May 20 meeting will be whether to put the fees back on the agenda for discussion. If the council agrees to revisit the matter, it will be scheduled for deliberation and a decision at a future meeting.
A housing in-lieu fee applies to subdivision projects with two or more units, and it’s paid when developers do not provide affordable housing units in their project. Rather than include affordable units, the developer pays a fee, and that money is put toward other affordable housing projects.
Coronado’s fee has not changed since 1993, and city staff recommended the increase because Coronado needs more money for affordable housing projects. Coronado’s $7,000-per-unit fee is lower than that in other coastal communities.
But developers worry that, in addition to hurting business and discouraging development, the high fees might also impact local property values. Further, they suggested that the fee increase would hurt projects that are already in the planning or permitting stage, since these costs were not accounted for.
“I voted in favor of this dramatic increase to the in-lieu fee,” Fleming wrote in his request, “and upon the input from fellow citizens and under further consideration at a future city council meeting. I do not believe that we received constructive input on the matter from the community, and I would like to provide the community with another opportunity to inform us on how this increase might impact property owners and future property development in Coronado.”
City staff will present its proposed budget for the next fiscal year and ask for guidance and direction from the council. The proposed budget is available here, and does not include the use of reserve funds.
Public hearings for condos and other projects
The city council will hold public hearings for several construction projects. It will consider several requests for a one-lot tentative parcel maps that, if approved, will allow for condominium ownership of residential units on the lots in question. The specifics, including parcel maps, are here. The projects include a four-unit condominium on Isabella Ave.; a 12-unit condominium on Orange Ave.; and a two-unit condominium on Orange Ave. The council will also hold a public hearing considering a historic alteration permit for a property on Alameda Blvd.
Public hearings on city staff vacancies, recruitment, and retention
Per Assembly Bill 2561, public agencies must disclose the status of their employees each fiscal year. This hearing will include a presentation on current staffing vacancies, as well as recruitment and retention efforts the city is taking.
