Growth Management Committee Has Gateway Tract in Its Sights

is debating whether -- or how -- to change the maximum number of new housing units allotted per year in the city.

The panel, which met Wednesday at Healdsburg City Hall, is especially looking for the magic number within an 80-acre redevelopment tract incorporating and numerous other parcels on the south end of town.

At issue is whether there should be changes to Measure M, the city's growth management ordinance passed by voters in 2000. The current ordinance allows for 30 market-rate or above housing units to be built on average each year. Commercial, industrial or low income units are exempt.

since the last meeting to consider possible alternatives and direction to staff.

attended the meeting to offer some alternatives for the committee to consider. He noted that in the last 12 years since the passage of Measure M, approximately 143 market rate units have been constructed, out of a total allowance of 360.

Winston said some of this shortfall can be attributed to the economic conditions of the last four years, but the overall numbers did not seem to indicate that growth had been hindered in any way.

Historically, Healdsburg's growth rate has hovered around 1 percent, even before passage of Measure M, he said.

Committee member Jim Brush floated a possibility of increasing the allocation to 35 units per year, with a 10-year window with no annual limitation on units.

Winston responded that the impact of that proposal could, at the extreme, translate to putting 350 units on the market in one year. Winston said if that was the result, it would have a negative effect on the real estate market and create an explosion of growth which the community would find unacceptable.

Much of the discussion centered on how to provide effective growth management while still allowing for flexibility for unique circumstances or economies of scale.

Committee Chairman Tom Chambers said he was hopeful the committee would be able to wrap up their work and provide recommendations fairly soon. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at City Hall.