City Will Review These Development Proposals First

The City Council established on Tuesday a "priority list" of development proposals it will fast-track through its review process.

The projects include "affordable" and family housing and high revenue generating commercial developments that aren't likely to create a lot of new traffic.

These are the priority projects:

1. Commercial projects anticipated to generate lots of sales tax revenue for the city but that are not anticipated to create more traffic, such as hotels, auto dealerships and movie theaters. 
2. Housing projects that designate 15 percent of the units affordable to tenants  with "very low" incomes, defined as 50 percent of the area's median income. Additionally, at least 5 percent of the units have to be affordable to tenants at 80 percent of AMI, or "moderate" income.
3. Housing projects that have a maximum of 20 percent studios and a minimum of 20 percent 2-bedroom units and 10 percent 3-bedroom units. 
4. Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
5. Projects that are required priorities under settlement agreements.

The council decided on the list because it is unable to keep up with the number of development agreements washing into City Hall. As of Tuesday, the number was 35. At least three of the applications are for new hotels and the expansion of the Fairmont-Miramar.

"We can only work on so many projects in the next year—we’re not going to get to 35," said councilman Kevin McKeown.

Development agreement applications were previously reviewed in the order they were received.

See also:

City Council Responds to Request to Slow Down Development

Santa Monica Now Juggling 32 Development Applications

Councilwoman's Snake Metaphor Explains Lots of Development

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