CC 2022-10-25_08d Supplemental 1
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Jessica Matson, Legislative & Information Services Director/City Clerk
SUBJECT: Supplemental Information
Agenda Item 8.d. – Consideration of Adoption of a Resolution
Declaring City-Owned Property Located at 400 W. Branch Street As
Non-Exempt Surplus Property and Directing Staff to Proceed to
Dispose of the Property Pursuant to the Surplus Land Act
DATE: October 25, 2022
Attached is correspondence received before 4 p.m. for the above referenced item.
cc: City Manager
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Website (or public review binder)
From:Kevin Buchanan
To:Caren Ray Russom; Kristen Barneich; Jimmy Paulding; Keith Storton; Lan George; Brian Pedrotti; Whitney
McDonald; public comment
Subject:Item 8.d - 400 W Branch
Date:Monday, October 24, 2022 9:24:09 PM
Councilmembers and staff,
The apparent goal of selling 400 W Branch to a hotel developer would squander valuable land
for short term revenue goals. The friction involved in selling the land through the Surplus
Lands Act should communicate to you the dire need for affordable housing in our city, county,
and state. There's no reason the city can't take a proactive approach to both housing and
revenue goals here, while also preserving city land for revenue potential now, and in the
future.
A land lease to affordable housing developers could generate rental income from the property,
provide for much needed housing, retain the land for further uses and additional revenue
generation in perpetuity, and in the case of a mixed use project, provide additional space for
local businesses to generate sales tax proceeds to the city. As much as I would like to see
affordable housing come to fruition through the Surplus Lands Act process for 400 W Branch,
it would be disappointing to know that the end result was due to compulsion by state law, and
not the proactive vision on our city's part.
I hope that we have pursued other options here in the form of a land lease, and if that can not
or will not work for whatever reason, I hope Arroyo Grande follows through in good faith
with the Surplus Lands Act process.
Kevin Buchanan