Compliance With the Conversion Limitation Act

Letter to Mountain View City Council asking for better methods to comply with the condominium Conversion Limitation Ordinance. Dated March 9, 2006.

March 9, 2006

Nick Galiotto, Mayor Kevin Duggan, City Manager Michael Martello, City Attorney

I am writing on behalf of the Los Altos/Mountain View League of Women Voters. Our housing committee has been studying issues related to affordable housing in Los Altos and Mountain View for nearly two years. We are most concerned about the number of rental units that will be lost by condominium conversions and demolition.

After reviewing Section 28.92 of the Conversion Limitation Act, the initiative ordinance passed by voters in 1979, we find it provides that "...no application for conversion shall be filed nor shall any conversion be approved or allowed to occur unless it is publicly documented beforehand that the total number of apartments will not, at any time, be reduced by the proposed conversion to any number below the initial total number." ..."(declared... to be 15,373)." Nonetheless, conversions are being approved without public documentation.

Public documentation is essential to comply with the ordinance and update the City's housing element. The City and the public require information on the rental housing stock to determine housing needs and policies. Perhaps the city could collect specific fees for condo conversion applications sufficient to fund staff or a consultant to complete the required documentation.

In addition, we have been advised through informal discussions with City staff that an apartment teardown followed by condo development on the same site is not covered by the initiative ordinance. This position is inconsistent with the intent of the initiative, as is indicated by Section 28.90, the Statement of Purpose. It is also inconsistent with the Definitions of "Apartment", and "Conversion" included in Section 28.91 of the ordinance.

For all these reasons we urge the City to deliberate on better methods to comply with this ordinance.

Sincerely yours,

Donna Yobs Co-chair, Housing Committee League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mountain View Area

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