Letter to the Editor – Commons needs cost details, family-sized units
Dear Editor,
The Commons is a big project. I’m most concerned about the costs and the living spaces. How will this be paid for? How many units will there be and how big will they be? Who will qualify to rent there?
I’ve lived here 27 years. As I recall, the last time we community members were asked to weigh in on a big project like this was in 1998 when the Lande/O’Brien property was being proposed for development. In our community meetings at that time, we were given paperwork which included the Proposed Development Summary, the General Plan Policy Issues and maps of Proposed Dwelling Units. A Comment Sheet was included listing Evaluation Criteria & Agreement or Non agreement with the proposed plans. Criteria included such things as housing need, supply and demand, contributes to “Small Town: environment and character,” availability of water and sewer capacity, etc. (I have these papers.)
While I appreciate the meetings and models prepared and presented by Brenden Kelly and his partner, we haven’t received any paperwork like I mention above. We need more concrete information on what is being planned, especially as regards the costs and the housing elements. Let’s build the type of units that not only house people, but units that will build community.
We need to take the time necessary to do surveys to find out what is needed. We don’t want to end up like the Napa College, building housing that doesn’t get rented. We know affordable housing is needed, but let’s find a way to let people rent to buy into something they can afford and live and stay in for five years or more, even if they have one or two children later on. A studio is like a hotel room, not a place you’d want to live in for very long. Likewise, a one-bedroom wouldn’t be sufficient for a couple with one child. It doesn’t seem smart to build lots of studios and one-bedrooms. It seems that invites a more transient population, not a population that builds community.
We need to see a detailed business plan. Everything has been too vague regarding the costs. This is going to be a huge investment, and we need to spend our money wisely and go very slowly if we’re talking about borrowing any money. Right now, the majority of the residents in Yountville are retired and probably on fixed incomes, and they aren’t interested in taking on debt and having their taxes raised.
Council, please slow down this process. Please show us a business plan which includes development plans and operating plans.
Thank you.
Julie Worthington
Yountville
Sponsored
Author
