In the Town Council’s last meeting of 2017, the annual residential Growth Report was presented and accepted. The report informed the council that the total number of residential units currently in the “pipeline” included 266 units proposed in the pending Jensen Lane annexation.
In process is 1,165, which is up from the 891 units that were being tracked at the end of 2016. In addition to acknowledging the pipeline units, council confirmed their decision to set a future growth rate of 1.5 percent, allowing an additional 700 units to be approved in the next five years, 2018 through 2021.
It was explained that many of these proposed residential units would not be built within the next five years, just as the town has seen very little residential growth since the recession of 2008, something on the order of 900 units spread over the nine-year period.
My particular concern with the acceptance of the report and allocation allotments and my dissent by vote is I don’t believe the town has truly determined what the affects of adding a hypothetical 5,595 people to the town (combining 1,165 and determined what the effects and 700 units = 1,865 x three persons per unit) may have.
I also feel that the adopted 1.5 percent growth rate is in excess of what the town can support in a sustainable, thoughtful, future and is well above the housing numbers determined to be our fair share by ABAG, the Bay Area regional governing body.
Also on our agenda, although in closed session, was the deliberation of how to deal with the proposed 19-unit Hembree Lane development, which as the council previously discussed is impacted by a proliferation of protected oak trees, the majority of which are just over the six-inch trunk diameter size to render them protected and subject to mitigation fees for their removal.
I raised the fact that in addition to preserving the seasonal pond on the property, the town could request as part of the development of the homes, a small natural trail be provided for access of adjoining neighborhoods to Robbins Park. The purchase of the pond and the trail could be made, providing the tree mitigation fees required under our current ordinance to paid by the developer be used to purchase from the developer the pond and trail property to be used as a tree mitigation area.
To me it appeared to be an understandable swap bringing the health benefits of adding to our trail system to our community. The council is clear they do not want the trail and I remain off base, just as in baseball, waiting to be thrown out.
I believe there are two other items of interest to you townspeople. The fresh water well project in Esposti Park is now completed and it is almost a certainty that the well will not come on line. Arsenic and one other mineral contaminant seem to render the water unusable without significant filtering that is too costly. I expect the town to look elsewhere for another drinking water source.
Finally, the council with the direction of staff, agreed to move forward with an EIR or environmental work-up on the Windsor Mill apartment development by Bisno over my objection that the project as submitted does not meet the general plan and zoning code requirements that a quarter to a third of the project be single family neighborhood residential rather than the continuation of the multi unit apartments as proposed for the entire project.
The explanation that accepting a development application that did not meet the town’s requirements was a common occurrence just did not ring quite true or appropriate to me. Traditionally, a project such as this requested a zoning change to planned community development and proceeded through the process of approval.
I bring these issues forward as news I believe is important. I take it as a responsibility of my job as your council member. The council has set Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for its annual goal-setting workshop. While I urge the council to use the town hall for this meeting in what I believed would be an accommodation to the public, council has decided that the more intimate setting outside the confines of the council chambers is the tradition and more comfortable.
The location is yet to be determined. I would urge you to consider providing your input as to what the council goals for the future should be. You are most welcome to attend or provide your thoughts by email or letter to the town. All things will be considered.
Sam Salmon is a Windsor Town Councilmember.
