AFFORDABLE-HOUSING WORRIES; CITY WEIGHS GUIDELINES FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer The city's push to set guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. for a housing advisory committee comes as concerns grow over the lack of affordable living quarters in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . The City Council on Tuesday will consider approving a resolution that would set parameters for the Housing Issues Committee. Although the panel was re-established in March 1998, it will be several months before it actually is in place and operating, said John Prescott
``This is the very first step, dotting the I's and crossing the T's. It's really a framework for them to work within,'' he said. Under the resolution, the committee would serve in an advisory role to the council on housing issues. Its proposed duties include: Reviewing proposals for new affordable housing development projects or conversions of existing housing stock. Making recommendations on new development standards for affordable housing projects. Analyzing housing policy and budget issues. Unlike the original committee, which was composed of two council members and two city planning commissioners, the new group will have 11 members, one of whom will be a council person who would chair. In addition to five residents, the membership would be composed of representatives from the Council on Aging, Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle , Disabled Access Appeals Advisory Board, Area Housing Authority and Many Mansions. Although the city has programs in place to help with affordable housing, a new group has formed to enlighten en·light·en tr.v. en·light·ened, en·light·en·ing, en·light·ens 1. To give spiritual or intellectual insight to: the public about the dilemma. The Thousand Oaks Sustainable Balanced Community Group, made up of community leaders, is doing outreach Outreach is an effort by an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specific audiences or the general public. with various groups in the city to generate knowledge and support for more affordable housing. In a city where the average home sells for nearly $300,000 and median rents for a one-bedroom go for $920, many of Thousand Oaks' work force are locked out of the community they contribute to, the group said. Also on the council agenda is consideration of a recommendation to search for an ongoing revenue source to support open space, including an oak tree adoption program. There also will be discussion of a program to require developers to meet with residents about the proposed project before it goes before city. |
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