PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jay Trevino, Executive Director, Planning & Building Agency, City of Santa Ana, 714‐667‐2706
SANTA ANA TAKING STEPS TO ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTION, HOUSING, JOBS
SANTA ANA, CA – The Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously at its February 7 th meeting to defer collection of development impact fees to foster continued development and jobs in the community. The program applies to both residential and non‐residential development, and allows developers to defer the payment of several fees.
Deferring these development impact fees reduces the amount of up‐front costs developers must finance through debt or equity, and reduces the amount of interest paid over the construction period. These fees can represent a sizable up‐front cost and may be a deciding factor in the financial feasibility of a project. “The Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIA/OC) applauds the leadership of the Santa Ana City Council for their proposal to assist the building industry by supporting a development fee deferral program, says Bryan Starr, Deputy Executive Officer, External Affairs. “The BIA/OC is proud to partner with progressive city leaders who find common sense solutions to some of the pressures that our industry has been facing.”
The impact fee deferral program will last for one year beginning March 9, 2011 and ending March 7, 2012. It allows these costs to be paid at occupancy, rather than at the beginning of construction.
Duh, One Broadway Tower.
That is good news!
1st (postpone) 2nd (forgive) 3rd (campaign donations)
All cities and counties need to watch the Bell trial.
Following the letter of the law to (XXXXX) from the public may not be legal after all.
Bad news Cook:
Gov. Jerry Brown’s efforts to cut state spending could jeopardize one of the cornerstones of California’s open records laws—the requirement that government bodies give the public fair notice about meetings.
The state Legislature already suspended the funding that local governments receive for posting public notices by omitting the money from last year’s budget. Now Brown wants to suspend it for the entire 2011-12 fiscal year, leaving the mandate in legal limbo and raising the prospect that some local government bodies will stop complying altogether.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17394857?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1
They might start by hiring some competent people in Plan Check, I submitted remodeling plans in early July and they weren’t approved till February.
Santa Ana is way too restrictive and too slow, I’ve decided it’s more cost efficient to just move.
anonster,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I suggest you contact your Council Member and let him know (that would be Carlos Bustamante). Also, call Karen Haluza, in planning, or their boss, Jay Trevino, and let them know what is happening. You can also bring this up at the next Planning Commission meeting, as a public comment. You do have recourses!
And now –
“City of Santa Ana taking steps to DIScourage construction, housing and jobs”
http://www.santa-ana.org/pba/planning/HousingOpportunityOrdinance.asp
SA City proposal to mandate affordable housing for residential developers. There are other options available to the City to accomplish their affordable housing goals.
This City needs to encourage development – not send developers to neighboring cities without this type of “feel good” but economically damaging ordinance.