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Fee could be link to affordable housing

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May 27, 2008 3:00 AM (104 days ago) by Katie Worth, The Examiner
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Related Topics: SAN MATEO

SAN MATEO (Map, News) - Commercial developers that build offices and retail stores bring in jobs, but city staff members say that they should also pay fees to help build affordable housing for the workers who take the positions.

The “linkage fee” for commercial developers was proposed in 1993, and, city staff says, if the fees had been implemented there would be $15 million more in the pot now for affordable housing.

The proposal has gained renewed interest, with members of the City Council and the Planning Commission giving it favorable reviews during a joint study session held recently.

Among the staff’s top recommendations for how to build more affordable housing in the city was a commercial linkage fee of $5 per square foot on new commercial space. Money generated by the fee would go into an affordable-housing fund.

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A second recommendation would raise the city’s below-market-rate housing requirement, which requires housing developers to sell at least 10 percent to 15 percent of their units at affordable rates.

Most planning commissioners and council members said they were in favor of raising the below-market-rate housing requirement. The leaders were somewhat more cautious about the linkage fee.

Leading the opposition to the higher fees is the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President and CEO Linda Asbury testified that increased fees are not the best way to bring affordable housing to the city.

But real estate agent and affordable-housing advocate Karyl Eldridge, one of at least a dozen people who spoke in favor of the linkage fee, said the time for equivocating was over.

“What I hope is that we aren’t sitting here in another 10 years doing a similar calculation about how much we could have had if we had only implemented it in 2008,” she said.

kworth@sfexaminer.com

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Comments from Examiner Readers

10:48 AM MST on Fri., Aug. 29, 2008 re: "Neighbors hope to derail trail"

 Trail Border said:
Hey Sam, got any sympathy for the gentleman who had the living hell beat out of him on the trail last week?

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12:05 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 16, 2008 re: "Past meets future in SoMa"

 Examiner Reader said:
the photo in the article seems to be of the house of shields on new montgomery - not mentioned. also i went to look at 562 howard, mentioned- and there was no such building, unless i made one of my errors

 4 agree | 4 disagree
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6:52 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 14, 2008 re: "Past meets future in SoMa"

 Examiner Reader said:
Why are we building a 1000 ft, transit tower surrounded by 550 ft, high-rise buildings in an unquestionably seismically active area (if the experts are correct?) which is poised for a major earthquake?

4 agree | 6 disagree
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12:47 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 14, 2008 re: "Development gears toward Howard’s ‘village feel’"

 Examiner Reader said:
When are they planning to open the first half of the community to the public?

5 agree | 5 disagree
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12:38 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 14, 2008 re: "Development gears toward Howard’s ‘village feel’"

 Examiner Reader said:
We live right near this area and we were just wondering are the community stores going to be open to the public?

6 agree | 6 disagree
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8:56 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008 re: "Past meets future in SoMa"

 Examiner Reader said:
""Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, a public-policy think tank, said he is confident the construction will not obliterate all of The City’s historic buildings. The survey, he said, shows that city officials are intent on fusing old San Francisco with the modern look."" LOL interesting word choice Gabe, "fusing old San Francisco with the modern look" at your testimony before the Planning Commission on the Market Octavia Plan you supported 400 foot residential towers less than 15 yards from 25 foot 1930's stick build housing behind South Van Ness along Layfayette. Your support for that certainly didn't consider "fusing" anything but rather ripping the fabric in this part of the city. Think about it next time you see your SPUR paycheck show up in your checking account.

 18 agree | 7 disagree
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12:03 AM MST on Fri., Jul. 25, 2008 re: "Home is where the houses are"

 SFLiberal said:
Valleyboy, you are delusional. Nobody in their right mind would consider San Jose the premier city in the Bay Area. That is ridiculous! Bigger doesn't mean better. I mean, seriously, most people in the U.S. and the World don't even know where San Jose is. Most people know and admire San Francisco. I used to live in San Jose. I didn't hate it but come on! It is no San Francisco. San Francisco has everything, culture, cool nightlife, amazing restaurants, beautiful parks, the Bay, the Ocean, and its walkable with good mass transit. San Jose, by many counts, is an overgrown suburb. The Silicon Valley is very important, I agree. But San Francisco captures everyones' hearts, not San Jose. Seriously. Your envy is pretty apparent. Be happy for what you have but don't get irrational about it. San Francisco is the best city on the Earth. San Jose is a pretty good city located in the High Tech Capitol of the World. I give it that.

 10 agree | 7 disagree
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11:58 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Struggle between preservation and development continues on San Bruno Mountain"

 SFLiberal said:
What the Bay Area needs to do is cap the population and stop ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT. We need to preserve what we have. Illegal Immigration is also not good because it puts pressure on the population to grow, use more resources and contribute to sprawl. CAP THE POPULATION! STOP DEVELOPMENT! PERIOD.

 8 agree | 7 disagree
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2:38 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Struggle between preservation and development continues on San Bruno Mountain"

 Bay Area Taxpayer said:
The entire reason for expansion onto open land is to increase tax revenue to the city or county where the land is located. The resulting gradual degradation of quality of life for existing inhabitants whether it be endangered butterflies or endangered human beings is not an issued for goverments. Money is number one always. People's lives and the quality is never an issue. Money is always short in San Mateo County and almost all of its cities due to fiscal mismanagement by their respective governments. One can fight for the land but eventually with eventual over-population there is no way to stop it ... think of it as the beginning of the end. Have a nice day.

 8 agree | 6 disagree
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12:50 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 6, 2008 re: "Visitacion Valley residents could see influx of neighbors"

 Examiner Reader said:
I would understand if the article was talking about development displacing a piece of nature. But this is about building something on a site of a shuttered factory in the middle of an urban area near 2 rail lines. Who in their right mind can be against that?

 12 agree | 11 disagree
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9:33 PM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008 re: "Visitacion Valley residents could see influx of neighbors"

 Examiner Reader said:
why are we apparently attempting to cover every bit of open land in the bay area with development? as if traffic isn't already bad enough and mass-transit isn't fully challenged trying to handle the current level of commuters.

 10 agree | 12 disagree
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1:13 PM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008 re: "Visitacion Valley residents could see influx of neighbors"

 Examiner Reader said:
I live in Brisbane too close and say NO! Every low-rent neighborhood invites more problems. The old Geneva Towers were torn down twice, lest we forget.

 11 agree | 12 disagree
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12:34 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "‘15-acre project’ could get bigger"

 Examiner Reader said:
I reside in Foster City and totally agree with this article. There is entirely too much development being proposed!

 15 agree | 14 disagree
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10:45 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008 re: "Peninsula’s future dwells in the clouds"

 Examiner Reader said:
san carlos laurel street is filthy with litter and shops closing and moving to better locations. No population growth , just more filth and litter.

 54 agree | 15 disagree
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10:42 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Home is where the houses are"

 Examiner Reader said:
ValleyBoy, you have no idea what you're talking about. San Jose has more people than SF (though your numbers are definitely a bit off), yes, but SF has nearly twice as many jobs and is four times as densely populated. San Jose remains the only city in the United States of more than 500,000 people to lose population during the day when people go to work - San Francisco's population gains several hundred thousand people during working hours. Places that lose population when people leave their homes to go to work are what's known as suburbs. San Francisco county also covers only 47 square miles, while Santa Clara county covers more than 1200. Can you grasp how total population is fairly meaningless when you consider the huge gap in the amount of space available in each area? San Francisco remains the major city in the region and that won't be changing. Get used to it

 14 agree | 14 disagree
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10:50 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 9, 2008 re: "Home is where the houses are"

 ValleyBoy said:
This article is absurdly provincial. Any story about ABAG has to relate how it affects the biggest most important city in the nine county San Jose Bay Area, which is: San Jose, NOT San Francisco. San Jose will top 1 Million people in August (more or less). San Francisco is arguing with the Census bureau if it does or does not have more that 749,000 people, the same population it had in 1950. From a journalistic point of view, the article SHOULD have compared ABAG's requirements to actual growth, vs Cal Dept of Finance projects. SF is projected to grow by less than 1%, while San Jose will do 5-7%. It is a demographic certainty that San Jose will be twice as large as San Francisco by 2020. Why does this article focus on a second tier city like San Francisco ? San Mateo only has 707,000 people living there, Santa Clara almost 2 million. Why not mention the important places like San Jose and Santa Clara instead of burying your head in the sand

 15 agree | 20 disagree
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2:29 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 9, 2008 re: "Home is where the houses are"

 Bay Area Taxpayer said:
There are hundreds of formaldehyde spewing FEMA trailers still unused and leftover from Katrina ... Newsome make the call ,make it happen ...ship them to SF ...mission accomplished.

 15 agree | 14 disagree
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2:42 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 4, 2008 re: "Report recommends radical street changes"

 Examiner Reader said:
benches and gardens will only invite bums and vagrants.

 15 agree | 14 disagree
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12:20 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 4, 2008 re: "Report recommends radical street changes"

 Examiner Reader said:
""Under the draft plan, crosswalks would become more prolific; parking lanes would be replaced with benches and gardens; traffic would be slowed and squeezed into narrower streets; concrete footpaths would be replaced with rainwaterabsorbing dirt, plants and trees; and “generous” sidewalks would be built with plenty of curb ramps."" Such a radical progressive idea, and in District 6? Hey isnt that Stupervisor Daly's District? Won't such improvements cause gentrification? Me thinks that the good Stupervisor should be 100% against these gentrification projects...imagine trees, gardens and benches in District 6!!

 14 agree | 12 disagree
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10:17 AM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Community funds to bridge economic gaps in SoMa"

 Examiner Reader said:
""SoMa resident Jim Mekko said that eight to 10 years ago the downtown neighborhood was “ground zero” of the dot-com boom and bust and the funds would bring needed relief to the community."" Not exactly sure what dot-com bust has to do with the topic at hand? The people that live in my area are working class people and lots of Philipino families with kids. I talk with them lots and what they want more than anything and what nobody including our supervisor has delivered is crime free streets. We dont care anymore about much of anything else. ""Daly praised the committee’s work, saying it would put the money “into the hands of the community folks that can do good to mitigate some of the negative impacts from very large development that is happening in the South of Market.”" Well we are community folk. We do not need the money we want safety. There are kids right down the block that cannot go outside because of the drug users. All the other trash we can live with we want safety.

 18 agree | 13 disagree
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7:42 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 26, 2008 re: "Elkridge in the midst of a residential and commercial development boom"

 Examiner Reader said:
In reference to Elkridge and it's designation for affordable housing and high density, I would be most interested in an update from DPZ and the State Highway Administration on how the traffic will be handled at an acceptable level of "C" or better, particularly as one heads north into Baltimore County. A plan to handle traffic going to UMBC, Catonsville Community College, the Arbutus train station and BWI airport and commercialdistrict needs to be designed & implemented before the density is completed. Mass transit by light rail or bus line needs to be in place to support the existing and limited Route 1 right-of-way through Elkridge and into Arbutus. For once, can we not put the infrastructure in place BEFORE the density?

 15 agree | 17 disagree
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2:08 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008 re: "Corridor ready to sprout"

 Examiner Reader said:
Well yes of course it makes perfect sense to build 400 foot residential towers along South Van Ness from Mission to Market cause nobody in the Hayes Valley area of the Market and Octavia Neighborhood Plan area would have tolerated those monsters. Oh yes, the towers will provide limited to no off street parking, they will cast shadows into residential enclaves where over 400 people now live less than 20 yards to the east in the Western SOMA, create street level winds to rival Fox Plaza. So much for the San Francisco urban fabric which will be torn in this part of The City. No where else has such a disruption been allowed by placing 400 feet towers 20 yards from two story residential. Oh wait, I seem to recall this type of land use proximity in Bangkok. The watch word in San Francisco circles is...dump it in SOMA they wont care. Goes for pot clubs, regional serving night clubs and so called "light industrial use" what a laugh. Now you Supervisors show some backbone and speakup!

 21 agree | 28 disagree
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3:39 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Home Depot axes warehouse plans"

 Examiner Reader said:
I remember a friend of mine who used live on the same block as Mr. Ammiano referred to Mr. Ammiano as a "Man of the People." I guess the "people" in this case doesn't include the "people" in Sophie Maxwell's district who could benefit from an employer and business like home depot instead of the scores of liquor stores in that district.

 19 agree | 18 disagree
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8:43 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 1, 2008 re: "Home Depot axes warehouse plans"

 Examiner Reader said:
Only a San Francisco progressive politician like Tom Ammiano would gloat over denied jobs and urban blight. Glad he is terming out.

 20 agree | 19 disagree
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9:35 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008 re: "Eldersburg mall gets new chance at life"

 carroll towne shopper said:
i also am very dissapointed that even if you are a shopper at the mall and try to sit down for a few minutes in peace that the mall security has to come up and try and kick you out hell its empty enough just let the kids skate and do what they want they arent hurting anyone and if they are its only themselves

 22 agree | 17 disagree
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1:54 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Fee possible fix for housing crunch"

 Examiner Reader said:
"Local Government" was never intended to interfere in the private marketplace like they continue to try and do. They don't need a "fee" ... because the term "fee" is always used to disguise a TAX.

 117 agree | 111 disagree
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1:48 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Fee possible fix for housing crunch"

 Examiner Reader said:
Bureaucrats don't do anything unless it benefits THEM. We don't need a "fee" and we don't need them interfering in the private sector. The job "projection" is only a guess and they're going to use that as an excuse to steal money from the public. IF the jobs develop, fine. If not, fine. The private community always figures out a way without lame bureaucrats interfering.

 144 agree | 107 disagree
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9:06 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Fee possible fix for housing crunch"

 Examiner Reader said:
I work for San Mateo County in a department of over 350 staff. Less than 20% live in San Mateo County. 95% of those who live outside of the county say it is because they can't afford to live in the same they work in. Most of the support staff make so little that they qualify for some sort of housing or food subsidy program. The need is NOW not in 2025.

 152 agree | 111 disagree
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9:15 AM MST on Sat., Feb. 16, 2008 re: "Fee possible fix for housing crunch"

 Alarm Dude said:
Let me figure this out. Business will increase jobs by 40%. In order to provide *Socialist, Government* housing for these employees, we impose a tax on businesses. Businesses take their expansion plans elsewhere because of the taxes. No new employees. In fact, businesses leave rather than expand. Employment drops. PROBLEM SOLVED!

 155 agree | 163 disagree
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10:12 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Methadone clinic slated for converted Dundalk home"

 white sluts black said:
A higher energy price is a sacrifice we have to make for cleaner fuels

 213 agree | 152 disagree
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8:46 PM MST on Sun., Jan. 13, 2008 re: "Divisadero Street overhaul planned"

 Examiner Reader said:
Sinister elements and a no man's land? This part of the Divisadero Corridor hardly resembles life outside the Internation Green Zone in Baghdad?

 232 agree | 159 disagree
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12:06 PM MST on Sun., Jan. 13, 2008 re: "Divisadero Street overhaul planned"

 Observation said:
It never fails; when the city comes up with a plan to make changes to a neglected area of the city, and one that is indisputably a busy conduit, naysayers grab their milk crates and plop down in front of their computers and trash every feature of the plan. How many of you attended the planning board meeting and presented alternate plans? How many of you actually participated in the planning process? The best way to reclaim a neighborhood from sinister elements is to make it a magnet for pedestrians and commerce - not by letting it become a no-man's-land.

 214 agree | 205 disagree
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7:07 PM MST on Sat., Jan. 12, 2008 re: "Divisadero Street overhaul planned"

 Examiner Reader said:
Just what San Francisco needs, one more trendy, upscale neighborhood in which to live and shop.

 235 agree | 175 disagree
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6:00 PM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Divisadero Street overhaul planned"

 Examiner Reader said:
Boutique business means overpriced shopping for rich Caucasian snobs. Wonder how many minority low income residents...what's left of them... can afford the "new" Divisadero now?

 198 agree | 182 disagree
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3:28 PM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Divisadero Street overhaul planned"

 EXAMNER READER said:
I see they are making it easier for drive by shooters to escape even faster than they do....what a few new trees for homeless people to live under...this city's prorities are in the toilet along with its adultress mayor

 187 agree | 176 disagree
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10:12 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 17, 2007 re: "Home Depot, Wal-Mart mark recent Liberty Road upgrades"

 Examiner Reader said:
Great move!

 219 agree | 259 disagree
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6:19 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 17, 2007 re: "Home Depot, Wal-Mart mark recent Liberty Road upgrades"

 Person from Randallstown Maryland said:
Hi,so there is going to be a Giant SuperMarket in the Liberty Plaza? Wow, that's nice. BlockBuster has been there for a long time. I think most of the shopping center where Dollar General was located should be knocked down, it would lose alot of business but make a better area. Marshall should be TJMaxx because they have better stuff. It would be crowded because of Wal-Mart, I know the Owings Mills Wal-Mart on Reistertown Road near Valley Centre is crowded all the time. I don't really like the Owings Mills one. If I was the examiner I would close Blockbuster's down and make it as a place called AppleBee's. I can't wait until Ruby Tuesday come to Brenbrook Plaza. Or, it can be a place called FYE (For Your Entertainment) which is a CD store. It's awesome. I heard that they would be building a convention center for seniors or whatever it was on Resource Drive by the Resource Center. I see that they are doing construction.

 283 agree | 238 disagree
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5:48 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 17, 2007 re: "Home Depot, Wal-Mart mark recent Liberty Road upgrades"

 Examiner Reader said:
Hello, I'm from Baltimore County in Randallstown and I just want to know when is the Wal-Mart coming to Randallstown? I wonder if it is going to be a supercenter. Yes I've seen the Home Depot and it looks very nice. I was wondering when the Wal-Mart is coming. I'm thinking its coming in March or something I don't know. Well, someday it'll come.

 267 agree | 225 disagree
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8:56 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Parties reach agreement on land proposal"

 teen for cash xxx said:
There are too many, not enough handicapped parking spaces in our city

 253 agree | 205 disagree
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8:56 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Warehouse now in Sykesville’s hands"

 teen for cash young said:
The quality of education is, is not lower than 15 years ago

 242 agree | 190 disagree
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8:50 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Turf Valley developers want land included in public water, sewer"

 teen forcash said:
Pretty much nothing notable happening. My mind is like a complete blank. I've just been hanging out waiting for something to happen. Not much on my mind to speak of. I just don't have anything to say. That's how it is.

 260 agree | 220 disagree
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8:43 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Mall proposal would add living space"

 cash teen said:
I haven't gotten much done recently. I don't care. My life's been basically boring these days. Whatever. More or less nothing exciting going on lately, but pfft.

 283 agree | 203 disagree
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8:32 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "County officials will appeal ruling on methadone clinic"

 teensforcash said:
My life's been basically boring recently. I've basically been doing nothing to speak of. That's how it is. I just don't have much to say recently. Oh well.

 255 agree | 179 disagree
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8:32 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Lockheed Martin announces Pr. George’s expansion plans"

 teen for cash young said:
My mind is like a fog, not that it matters. I just don't have much to say these days. That's how it is. I haven't been up to anything recently.

 235 agree | 203 disagree
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8:24 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Urban planners to map development in Tysons"

 teenforcash said:
There are too many, not enough handicapped parking spaces in our city

 279 agree | 212 disagree
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8:14 PM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007 re: "Midtown Springfield may get new look"

 teenforcash said:
I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen. I just don't have much to say right now, but so it goes. I've basically been doing nothing to speak of, but shrug. Today was a loss. I don't care. That's how it is.

 294 agree | 212 disagree
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4:38 AM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007 re: "Building can soon begin again in Westminster"

 Rachel Stevens said:
Today was a loss. I just don't have anything to say. Not that it matters.

 358 agree | 245 disagree
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4:33 AM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007 re: "Critics: Shopping center could hurt downtown"

 Susan Ward said:
I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen. I've just been letting everything wash over me. I can't be bothered with anything recently.

 304 agree | 251 disagree
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4:33 AM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007 re: "Mall proposal would add living space"

 Geena Davis said:
I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen. I've just been letting everything wash over me. I can't be bothered with anything recently.

 290 agree | 292 disagree
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4:29 AM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007 re: "Methadone clinic slated for converted Dundalk home"

 Jennifer Connelly said:
I haven't gotten anything done. Whatever. I just don't have anything to say.

 382 agree | 264 disagree
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