1,852 / 42.3% Yes votes ...... 2,531 / 57.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Exempt from such limits would be affordable housing, granny units, live-work units up to 25 per year, reconstruction and additions to existing residences which do not result in an increase to the existing numbers of residential units, community care facilities, homeless shelters, healthcare facilities, single room occupancies, elder care facilities, nursing homes, sanitariums, and minor subdivisions creating four or less lots.

An annual review of the City's infrastructure for better planning or to support affordable housing strategies would be required each year. The Growth Management Ordinance will be in effect through the year 2016 and can only be amended by a four-fifths vote of the Council.

California has established public policies favoring the preservation of open space, encouragement of agriculture as a livelihood, and the discouragement of urban sprawl. The City of Healdsburg General Plan sought to achieve this goal by the use of required specific plans for new development areas. Under California law, any land use regulation such as the proposed Growth Management Ordinance must be consistent with the City General Plan; if inconsistent, a legal challenge to the regulation may result in its being found void when passed, whether it be adopted by the City Council or directly by the voters. If approved by a majority of the voters, Measure L would specifically amend the City of Healdsburg General Plan to allow a consistent adoption of the Growth Management Ordinance that would establish an annual limit on the rate of residential growth.

The City receives development fees of approximately $17,500 per unit at the time of building permit issuance. There would be a reduction of development fees estimated by the City Planning and Building Director to be in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), which would result in a material fiscal impact on City services and may defer some public improvement projects such as street projects or park improvements. This reduction in development fees may in part be offset by in-fill development allowed by exceptions in the ordinance.

s/ Kenneth A. Wilson, City Attorney, City of Healdsburg

Santa Rosa Press Democrat

• Measures L and M compared

Environmental groups, affordable housing advocates, owner-builders, the City Council and concerned citizens all worked together for many months to create Measure L - a sensible solution to controlling our growth.

Measure L is a carefully planned and well-researched growth management tool. It limits the number of new homes that can be built in Healdsburg to just 25 per year, and allows a few carefully chosen exemptions that will encourage more affordable homes for buyers and renters. It is nearly impossible to find housing at a decent price here in Healdsburg, and Measure L is aimed directly at solving that problem. We have provided for more granny units and live-work housing in this measure, and we have encouraged builders with four lots or less to create infill projects and affordable housing for seniors.

Measure L is a strong growth control program that can only be changed by a four-fifths majority of the City Council. It is the right way to keep Healdsburg's small town charm and still find ways for our children and grandchildren to afford to live here.

When Measure L passes, it will be one of the strongest, most effective growth control measures in Northern California. Healdsburg deserves no less.

Thank you for your consideration and please feel free to contact any of us if you have any questions.

s/ Carla Ann Howell
s/ Leah Gold
s/ Cathleen N. Harvey
s/ Bruce Abramson

The only real growth control measure on your ballot this election is Measure M. It limits growth to 30 houses per year with exemptions only for affordable and senior housing. Placed on the ballot by 900 of your neighbors, these growth controls can only be changed by a vote of the people.

Measure L stands in stark contrast. Measure L contains exemptions and loopholes that will be growth inducing, not growth reducing. And it maintains all the power and control in the hands of the City Council, the same leaders who brought us Healdsburg's explosive growth.

Measure L has two major fatal flaws: it exempts all subdivisions of four or less homes from counting against the growth limit, and it allows the City Council to change or abolish the measure at any time. No limits and no teeth equals a continuing of a policy of uncontrolled growth in Healdsburg.

Protecting our environment, preserving our neighborhoods and keeping our small town family friendly is why Healdsburg citizens voted overwhelmingly for a 20-year urban growth boundary. Now it is right and reasonable for Healdsburg citizens to say how much and how fast we grow within that boundary to achieve the same goals.

s/ Jim Winston, Retired
s/ Gail Jonas, Attorney and Mediator
s/ Suzanna Wellington, Small Business Owner
s/ Tim McClure, Small Business Owner

Please study both measures carefully. The City's Measure L has numerous loopholes and exemptions. While the City's measure appears to allow for only 25 residential building permits to be issued yearly, it does not count subdivisions of four houses or less. The result could be the building of an unlimited number of houses that would not be counted in the total yearly building allocation. To achieve real growth control we must count all new residential housing.

Measure L is not even a binding growth control measure. The City Council carefully drafted language to ensure they could change or completely abolish their growth controls at any time.

Over the last four years, our City leaders have not done enough to rein in our explosion of new growth. We trusted our City leaders to be responsive to the needs of our community, and what we received in return was the dubious distinction of being the second fastest growing city in Sonoma County. If our rate of growth continues as it has since 1996, Healdsburg will double its population by 2013.

We are asking you to vote against the City Council's Measure L and support Measure M, the Citizens' Initiative for Real Growth Management. Measure M was written by citizens, qualified for the ballot by citizens, and leaves the decision over our future growth where it belongs, with the people, not the politicians.

s/ Jim Winston, Retired
s/ Suzanna Wellington, Small Business Owner
s/ Gail Jonas, Attorney and Mediator
s/ Tim McClure, Small Business Owner

Measure L limits the number of new residential building permits to only 25 per year. It encourages in-fill development with live/work units and small developments of four units or less. This is designed to promote careful, city centered development. Measure L also provides for affordable housing and community care facilities. Measure M falls short.

Measure L is the stronger growth control ordinance, yet is flexible enough to meet the changing housing needs of our town. Changes can only be made by a 4/5ths vote of the council. No other Sonoma County city is so strict on changes to its ordinance. Measure L will not require a costly special election to make minor adjustments that reflect changing times.

Measure L is the true citizen's initiative, written by your local representatives and neighbors for the long term good of Healdsburg. We urge you to oppose Measure M and support your local ordinance by voting yes on Measure L.

Remember to vote on November 7th.

s/ Gretchen A. Glaeser
s/ Edward C. Bland
s/ Eugene A. Levitt
s/ Jason Liles

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HEALDSBURG GENERAL PLAN AND ADOPTING GROWTH CONTROL REGULATION OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF HEALDSBURG

The people of the City of Healdsburg do ordain as follows:

SECTION 1. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT - Goal A, Policy 5 of the City of Healdsburg General Plan - Land Use Element now reads as follows:

"The City shall not establish annual quantified limits on the rate of growth in Healdsburg, but shall attempt through the specific plans prepared for new development areas, to ensure that growth occurs in an orderly fashion and with the expansion of City facilities and services."

The above language shall be deleted from the General Plan and amended by replacement with the following:

"The City shall establish an annual quantified limit on the rate of residential growth within the Urban Growth Boundary through the year 2016 and provide such exemptions and preferences as deemed necessary by the City Council to meet its affordable housing needs and to promote residential development. This requirement shall also apply to annexed lands and areas subject to a specific plan."

SECTION 2. FINDINGS - The City Council hereby finds:

(1) In referring this ordinance to a vote of the people, the City Council has considered its effect on the housing needs of the region in which this is situated, and balanced these needs against the public service needs of its residents and available fiscal and environmental resources.

(2) That the public health, safety, and welfare of the City and surrounding region shall be promoted by the adoption of this ordinance which justifies reducing the housing opportunities of the region including, but not limited to, the City's desire to preserve Healdsburg's small town character, open space, low density population, and to grow at an orderly and deliberate pace while preserving and protecting agricultural use on lands surrounding Healdsburg.

(3) That the adoption of this growth management system is essential to operating consistently with the City's General Plan and the Urban Growth Boundary for an orderly building rate within the sixteen (16) remaining years of this Urban Growth Boundary.

(4) That the adoption of the growth management system established by this ordinance is consistent with the City's General Plan in general and specifically with Goal A, Policy 5 of the Land Use Element as amended.

(5) That the growth management system established by this ordinance will not prevent the City from attaining its regional fair share housing needs as determined by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) because the system permits exemptions for Affordable Housing as defined for Sonoma County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(6) That in the enactment of this ordinance, the City has complied with all regulations of the California Environmental Quality Act and state and zoning laws.

SECTION 3. PURPOSE -The purpose of these regulations is to replace private market demand with governmental rationing of residential development; in doing so it should allow the planning process to be flexible and responsive to the changing circumstances and values of the community, so that final planning decisions reflect a comprehensive planning process that accommodates as many of the competing public interests as possible. In achieving this goal it is the purpose of these regulations to regulate residential development in an orderly manner to ensure that necessary public facilities and services are available when development occurs; to bring facilities and services up to appropriate standards when development occurs; to ensure that new development pays its fair share of adding facilities; and to maintain the environmental quality of the City of Healdsburg, and the aesthetic value of small town character.

SECTION 4. ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT ALLOCATION

(1) Subject to the exclusions listed below, permits for the construction of new residential units within the incorporated boundaries of the City, shall be limited to an average of 25 market rate units per year and in no case shall exceed 100 for any four-year period as prescribed in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.

(2) The initial period shall begin as of the effective date of this chapter, and end December 31, 2004 and each successive four-year period shall follow in order.

(3) This regulation shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2016.

SECTION 5. EXEMPTIONS - The following, and those exempt as a matter of law, are exempt from regulation by this chapter:

(1) Affordable Housing - any affordable residential housing unit defined as being eligible for households with incomes at or below 100% of the median annual income for Sonoma County defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(2) Granny Units- second dwelling units as defined by the Healdsburg Municipal Code and legally to be exempted under California Government Code section 65852.2.

(3) Live/Work Units - in commercial zoning districts not to exceed twenty-five (25) units per year.

(4) Reconstruction - including partial reconstructions or additions to presently existing residential dwelling units which do not result in an increase to the existing number of residential dwelling units.

(5) Community care facilities, homeless shelters, healthcare facilities, single room occupancies, elder care facilities, nursing homes, and sanitariums.

Minor Subdivisions - Creating four (4) or less lots and any duplex, triplex, or multi-family project resulting in four (4) or less dwelling units. This exemption shall be allowed only once for any property regardless of change of ownership through the year 2016.

SECTION 6. PREFERRED BUT NOT EXEMPT - Any single family residential lot of record in existence prior to July 3, 1995.

SECTION 7. ALLOCATION PROCEDURES - No allocation shall be awarded prior to issuance of a building permit and after all other discretionary permits have been first obtained, e.g. (but not limited to) any variance, use permit, tentative map and design review, on a first come, first served basis by the Planning Director with oversight by the Planning Commission. The allocation is valid for three (3) years only and then lapses. This requires the developer to use it within the time frame or lose it. Re-application would then be required.

SECTION 8. AMENDMENT; ANNUAL REVIEW

(1) Nothing in this chapter prevents the Healdsburg City Council from adopting implementation policies by resolution.

(2) The City Council of the City of Healdsburg may amend or change any of the terms of this chapter, however, any amendment or change of this chapter shall be effective only by a four-fifths vote of the entire City Council.

(3) An annual review of this chapter shall be conducted by the Planning Commission to review the City's infrastructure, the status of allocations, and to recommend needed changes for better community planning or to support affordable housing strategies.

(4) All ordinances or parts of ordinances, resolutions, or parts of resolutions, rules or regulations of the City of Healdsburg in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict and no further.

SECTION 9. SEVERABILITY - If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such a decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the chapter.

SECTION 10. ADOPTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CHAPTER - This ordinance shall become effective upon legal adoption by a vote of the electorate of the City of Healdsburg.