Affordable housing in dispute

A downtown developer is fighting a proposal to include affordable housing in a small Main Street lofts project.

The city’s Planning Department wants builder Jeff Bergsma to rent one of his three soon-to-be constructed housing units at a reduced rate as part of the city’s affordable housing program. A host of state and local laws require residential projects in redevelopment areas -- in this case the downtown Huntington Beach zone -- to include a fixed percentage of affordable housing stock among the high-priced houses that go on the market.

Bergsma said the requirement could make it difficult to make a profit on the downtown project; he can build only three units at the small lot on 438 Main St., located behind an office/retail building he recently completed.

Bergsma is asking that he be allowed to meet the affordable housing requirement by providing additional low-market housing elsewhere in the city, such as in the inland portions closer to the San Diego (405) Freeway.

City officials will not support that proposal, planner Paul Da Veiga said, adding that the city would like to see more low-income housing opportunities near the beach.

“In the coastal zone, there is a shortage of affordable rentals,” he said.

To meet the low-income housing requirements, the proposed unit must be affordable to families making 80% of Orange County’s median home income, or approximately $36,000. That works out to about $900 a month in rent, according to a recent report from the California Department of Housing.

The item was set to go before the planning commission Tuesday night, but Bergsma has asked for a delay, hoping to negotiate a compromise. He recently hired a consultant who will present a proposal that would have Bergsma pay the city a special affordable housing fee in lieu of providing the low-income unit.

The small project marks the second time the city’s low-income housing ordinance has created controversy. Victims of the recent condominium conversion scandal also had to grapple with the law after they discovered their units had been illegally converted from apartments.

Former Mayor Pam Houchen and six other defendants were convicted of participating in the scam, which illegally converted rental housing into condominiums. Houchen and others tried to circumvent the city law, which would have required that about 15% of the apartments continue to serve as affordable housing if the other units were to be converted to condos.

When the city caught wind of the scandal, it required the new homeowners to pay an affordable housing fee to make up for the lost rental stock. The money would be used to build more affordable houses in the city. Eventually the city worked out a deal with the title companies representing the buyers to collect $10,000 per illegally converted unit.

Transportation agency selects new board

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors met this week to elect a new chair and vice chair to lead the agency during 2006.

Forming Huntington Mayor Cathy Green and a majority of the board selected Buena Park Mayor Art Brown to preside over board meetings as chairman for 2006. Brown replaces Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell, who served as chairman during 2005 and now serves as the chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Brown has served on the agency’s board since 1995. He is a retired Los Angeles County deputy sheriff and will also serve as chairman of the Metrolink board of directors in 2006.

Orange Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Cavecche was the unanimous choice to fill the seat of the agency’s vice chair for 2006. Cavecche has represented the third supervisorial district on the board since March 2004 and is a longtime resident of the city of Orange. She was elected to the Orange City Council in 2001 and was named mayor pro tem in 2003.

Riding the ‘Age Wave’

As the city’s senior population continues to grow, more volunteers will be needed to ensure the golden years are spent comfortably.

The Huntington Beach Senior Services is offering a free class on volunteering with seniors called “The Age Wave -- Are You Ready for the Ride?”

This free five-week class will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays from Feb. 1 to April 1 at the Rodgers Seniors Center. It includes CPR training as well as the following topics:

* Myths and realities of aging

* Basic communication and active listening

* Understanding the grieving process

* Baby boomers redefining aging

* Signs and symptoms of abuse

* Special needs of the homebound elderly

* The aging network and community resources

Volunteers are essential to the success of Huntington Beach Senior Services -- to transport seniors, package and deliver meals, visit the homebound, provide information and referrals, and much more.

For additional information or to enroll, please call Diane Swarts at (714) 374-1544.