LET'S TALK

By Betty Weibert

My position on Save Clayton PAC, information on the gas station Measure E and information on the housing element.

All city projects and issues are reviewed for compliance with our city's General, Specific, Town Center, and Marsh Creek Plans by elected and appointed officials and staff. All meetings are open to the public with notices posted in town, in the papers, and at the library specifying times and agenda items. Officials are precluded by law from discussing matters with each other prior to meetings. All citizens are welcome to attend and to address the issues at the meetings.

Information on the Service Station Ballot Measure E

The Planning Commission reviewed the issue of adding the words "service station" to the list of permitted uses in the Town Center Commercial Land Use Designation section of the General Plan. When recommended to the City Council, it was decided by majority vote of the Council to put this issue to the voters. If approved, the General Plan would then allow the building of a gas station or service station as a land use in Clayton. The lot near the assisted senior facility is city owned. A request for proposal (RFP) for potential projects on that lot was put out by the city. Only two proposals came in and they were both for service stations. The project negotiations were halted when it was determined that our General Plan did not allow for that use.
The current council made a determination that having this issue decided by the voters would best serve this community. It is a controversial approach, but this is what makes this town so special. Our elected officials care what the voters think and have several times put to a vote issues that would affect all citizens. Two years ago it was the downtown park and its funding. You the citizens will make the decision. If the ballot measure is rejected, no service station could be built. If a majority votes for it, the potential project will be put through our Planning and City Council processes. Please note: Many citizens believe the Shell service station resides in the City of Clayton, when in fact it is in the City of Concord.

Information on Housing

Our city is already sensitive to the issues of over development. In fact, the past two housing developments were re-zoned. The original zoning would have allowed for apartment housing. Clayton re-zoned the lots to allow for single family homes only and also refused to approve one developer's plans that called for only 4 feet between the house side and fence. The builder resold the project, and the new development has been approved with much more space. The City and developers hold meetings with adjacent homeowners to discuss items such as placement of two story houses and types of fences.
We are mandated by the state and the Association of Bay Area Governments to comply with certain housing needs such as affordable units. We have submitted to the state our updated housing plans and currently are in negotiations with them on state requested changes. The City requires each developer who builds 10 or more units in Clayton to provide subsidized affordable units either in their development or elsewhere in the community. The City has criteria that determines who qualifies for this housing and the City manages this housing program.