Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2021 12 09

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes November 11, 2021 Page 8 of 12 He was not sure that 55+ was as crucial for our city as housing was in general. He appreciated having more commercial and noted that, yes, it cost the City to serve those residential areas but at the same time there was a need in the community and each site did not necessarily have to balance itself financially. Howe asked if this was the right time to develop the area because we know that things are constantly changing. He thought that the changes that had been made were appropriate and would serve the community and add a neighborhood feeling to the Steel ranch area. He saw a need to decouple senior housing and 55+ and noted that the Council remarks included references to senior housing and he had not seen a discussion in the minutes of 55+. He agreed with the comments about making a motion to remove the 55+ deed restriction. He agreed with the Mayor that they were making it too easy to get out of affordability with the fee -in -lieu option. Brauneis stated that the affordable housing ordinance was written five months ago and if the goal was that in all circumstances they had to build the units then he would have expected a different law. He would love to see the units built but given the law the fee was an option. He noted that commercial was forever changing and that there was more surrounding Louisville than there ever was before. He did think that 55+ was what Council wanted to see and he asked how this was getting at diversity issues. He observed that requiring 55+ would allow for de facto accessible design and noted that that product had been provided elsewhere within Steel Ranch without those requirements. Because the applicant had proposed the 55+ units, he was okay with proceeding with that language and he thought that was what it would take for Council to approve it. Williams stated that people 55 and over wanted to stay in Louisville and using the deed restrictions or mandating was how to get there. She added that it was poor city planning to have residential on a major highway and if there were any changes made to this she would vote no. Diehl echoed that he did not view the Commission's role as facilitating the development of every undeveloped property in the city. It was to approve or reject the application based on whether it met the relevant documents and public comment. He noted that there had been arguments made about the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that the fee -in -lieu would increase home prices overall. He stated that there would be a lottery and these would be sold in a week or less and that was a drop in the bucket regarding the housing shortage and affordability. Howe responded to Commissioner Williams' comments, noting that south of South Boulder there were residential areas along Highway 42 so this would not be the only residential area on 42. Williams pointed out that it was 55 mph coming southbound from Longmont and was lower once you left the Hecla area, making north and south of South Boulder Road vastly different. Moline stated that he thought this proposal met the Comp Plan and was compliant with all of the planning issues per the Code. An important part of their deliberation was to