Rocklin City Council focuses on affordable housing

As Rocklin Assistant City Manager Sherri Conway introduced the presentation for Community HousingWork (CHW) at Tuesday's Rocklin City Council meeting, she declared, "Tonight is housing night!" Two affordable housing related ordinances and projects were presented at the Rocklin City Council meeting. Community HousingWork presented a resolution to City Council to approve the affordable housing agreement and ground lease agreement for its Oak & Pine Affordable Apartments project. According to Community HousingWork Senior Vice President Mary Jane Jagodzinski, Community HousingWork is a nonprofit organization that operates out of San Diego. It has been around for 33 years and currently serves more than 10,000 people. Jagodzinski said they are "committed to opportunity and diversity" within the "resident-centered" communities they serve. The Oak & Pine Affordable Apartments project is located on the corners of Oak Street and Pine Street in Rocklin near downtown. The project is set to include 110 apartment homes with a variety of room types, including studio and one-to-three bedroom units. The project plans to serve large families earning 30 percent to 60 percent median income, according to Jagodzinski. "Amenities include a community room, computer lab, onsite management, supportive services office, play area and onsite laundry," according to Jagodzinski's presentation at the meeting. The apartments are planned to be completed by June 2026. Councilmember Paul Ruhkala said after the presentation, "I look forward to seeing what you (Community HousingWork) propose" to the Planning Commission and design. Ruhkala also wants to make sure everything is " "managed and run properly." Ruhkala also expressed that the ability to keep downtown's street parking is also important to the community. Keeping that aspect of Rocklin "is important to us," Jagodzinski replied. She recognized how important keeping the community aspect of Rocklin was and emphasized that Community HousingWork will stay "committed" to that. A concerned audience member spoke during the public hearing with concerns for the project."We are going to be sticking people with no income or extremely low income in the center of our downtown," the audience member said, "If we go through with this, we will be consigning (that area) to a lower value than it currently is... I don't know if they're going to be here to spend money on small businesses here... what could've been used for a new center of commerce, a renovation for the area, or something that could spruce up the place, we're resigning that to low-income housing."Rocklin City Manager Aly Zimmermann addressed the audience member's concern. For a family of four in Placer County, low income means $81,000, so that means "our teachers, entry level public servants, people who are doing work in our community and single-income families" will be a part of this community, Zimmermann said. Zimmermann also said that data shows that these people will spend money in the community. Since only 30 percent of their income will be used for rent, rather than 60 to 70 percent normally seen in Placer County. They actually have "disposable income" that can be used on local businesses. Resident Jerry Mitchell also spoke over Zoom during the public comment in support of the project. "This lot, I think, is a particularly good opportunity to boldly go ahead and see what we can come up with because people need housing," Mitchell said. "I think it's a real opportunity." The council approved the resolution adopting the affordable housing agreement and ground lease agreement for the project. In other newsRocklin City Council approved the ordinance that management analyst Elizabeth Sorg presented to reduce the Park Improvement, Trail, Community and Recreation Facilities, and Public Facilities Impact Fees for Affordable Housing Developments. Affordable housing applicants can receive reduced rates for the above fees with the new ordinance."In the ordinance, we have several definitions of what affordable housing means," Sorg said. "These definitions are dependent on housing developments, purchase prices and rental prices. "We're following the state and HCD guidelines that outline what low income housing is, very low income housing, and extremely low income housing," Sorg said. "So all of the dwellings within these developments would need to follow within one of these three categories to qualify." With this ordinance, Rocklin Councilmember Greg Janda said, "I would like to see more emphasis on the" very low and extremely low categories, which are the 'more difficult levels.'" Rocklin Mayor Bill Halldin proposed that different levels, rather than a flat-lowering of the fees, be created, "I do think that we want to have levels of discount on our fees to match the affordability being offered in these developments," Halldin said. "Maybe we should reward those who are going on the lower end, rather than just having one thing that won't encourage people to go too low." City Manager Zimmermann said that the one level was initially considered because of "staff time and impacts." Zimmermann said she will work on Halldin's suggestion.