SANTA CRUZ — The city of Santa Cruz has community meetings slated for next week regarding potential pickleball courts in Depot Park, Grant Park playground renovations and the proposed three-story housing development at 232 River St.
The city is holding an in-person meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., where city staff will present a proposal to replace the existing bike ramps at Depot Park with four pickleball courts.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at the Market Street Senior Center, 222 Market St., the city will hold meetings about upcoming renovations planned for Grant Park. City staff will discuss the plans for the playground and picnic areas and take feedback from community members to help shape the design.
An online community meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday via Zoom to present information and gain feedback about the proposed three-story development at 232 River St.
According to the project plan set, the approximately 37 feet high, three-story condominium building will contain 27 total units. The project, which is being developed by San Jose-based Amondo Investment, will have a two-bedroom manager’s unit, 24 one-bedroom units and two studio apartments.
The project plan calls for the demolition of the existing residential duplex and two detached residential units to make way for the three-story project. The plans state that the existing 13-unit apartment building on the adjacent parcel to the north will remain and both buildings will share a common driveway.
Of the 27 units in the building, three one-bedroom units will be designated for those considered low income by the state, or a family of four making between $145,300 and $159,350 annually. The project only requires three below market rate units because the base density of the project, or the number of units allowed before the density bonus law is applied, is 18 units.
Santa Cruz city code states that any new residential rental project with five or more dwelling units is required to include 20% of the units for those making less than the area median income, which is currently considered $132,800 in annual earnings for a family of four in Santa Cruz County. However, if the 20% calculation results in a fractional requirement of 0.7 or less, the number is rounded down. With 18 base units at 20%, the developer is required to set aside three units as below market rate units.
The state’s density bonus is applied to any project that sets aside 15% below market rate, which allows the developer of 232 River St. 29 allowable units with the project actually containing 27 units. Providing 15% of the units for those considered very low income also provides the developer three concessions. The developer asked for one waiver to build higher than the 35-foot building height limit established in the city zoning.
Because the project is within a half mile of a major transit stop, the developer is not required to include car parking but will create 19 automobile parking spaces for the 27-unit development. The project will feature 32 class one bicycle parking spaces and six class two spaces.
For information about the online community meeting, visit cityofsantacruz.com.