Chamber of Commerce Questions and Answers

By Andrew N. Carter

The single biggest challenge facing the city is affordable housing. Our long-term social and economic well-being is dependent on successfully addressing the issue.

As a current member of the Planning Commission and a former member of the Housing Task Force, I'm proud to have taken a roll in formulating the city's response.

Over the past two years, we've seen a growing emphasis on mixed use projects with smaller units meant to be "affordable by design." We're finally moving forward with residential development in the Margarita Area. We've agreed to average residential growth over eight years instead of three to acknowledge the natural rhythms of the housing cycle and to allow us to catch back up to the 1% per year growth the General Plan envisions.

But there is more the City must do. I particularly believe we should take a comprehensive look at the impact fees and other requirements we impose on residential development, which add hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost to a new home. In return for affordable housing guarantees, we should be prepared to relax these fees and requirements.

2. Do you support Measure Y, the city sales tax increase, why or why not?

I support Measure Y. The state is currently taking away $3 million a year in tax revenue which used to be the city's. The city has basic infrastructure needs which are going unmet. The city's proven track record of prudent fiscal management plus the sunset provisions in Measure Y will help ensure additional revenues are wisely spent.

3. Bill Watkins of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project says that San Luis Obispo has zero job growth and this could have serious consequences for the future. Should we be concerned and if so what should the city do about this?

Job growth comes back to affordable housing. In fact, I'm concerned about having the affordable housing to maintain the jobs we already have. If the city focuses on affordable housing, job stability and job growth should then be able to manage themselves.