The Thousand Oaks City Council will consider waiving development impact fees for affordable for-sale housing projects at a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The proposed ordinance would exempt 100% affordable for-sale housing developments from certain development impact fees, according to the city's public hearing notice. The council is scheduled to take up the matter at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
The hearing caps a process that began April 14, when the council voted unanimously to direct staff to research a fee waiver program. That vote was prompted by Hillcrest Homes, a 78-unit affordable for-sale project at 384 Erbes Road developed by the nonprofit People's Self-Help Housing. Hillcrest Homes is the only 100% affordable for-sale housing project in the city.
The council approved Hillcrest Homes in March 2024, but the developer was facing financial challenges ahead of construction, the Ventura County Star reported in April. The waiver would cover Hillcrest Homes and all future 100% affordable for-sale projects in the city.
Finance Director Jaime Boscarino told the council at the April 14 meeting that for-sale affordable housing is "often only done by nonprofit developers, not private developers," which is why the proposed waiver targets that category.
The April vote was unanimous.
Council member Bob Engler, at that same meeting, said affordable for-sale housing was "one of the missing parts of what we're trying to provide for our community is this for-sale product at an affordable price point." Council members Mikey Taylor, David Newman, Al Adam and Tie Gutierrez also voted to move the waiver forward.
Veronica Garcia, chief real estate development officer for People's Self-Help Housing, told the Star in April that she sees homeownership as a critical part of the range of housing needs in the region.
The specific dollar amounts of the fees that would be waived have not been made public. The full text of the proposed ordinance and any accompanying staff report were not available ahead of the hearing.
Residents can attend the hearing in person at the Andrew P. Fox City Council Chambers or submit written comments to the City Council before or during the session. Questions can be directed to the City Attorney's Office at (805) 449-2170.
