2006-02-03 TRaymond - Laserfiche WebLink

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WATANABE:This is similar to what we did with the Inaba parcels that were, what was that, 5-acre lots that we said only one dwelling per lot? SIRACUSA:But this is not addressing my concern about that the lot size might be further reduced through rezoning. ALAMEDA:Well, lets check with the maker of the recommendation. Director Yuen? YUEN:For somebody to, if this rezoning went through and you create 3-acre lots and in the future somebody wants to make 1-acre lots, it would need another rezoning. The only example I can think of, and somebody can chime in if they can think of another one, the only example I can think of where we put a restriction on future rezoning, we were actually only transmitting or carrying on something in the Land Use Commission. Im thinking of the Newton. Can you think of other examples? DARROW:No. YUEN:No. And the reason, I understand the desire to want to say thats it; but rezoningisalegislativeprocessthatsdoneultimatelybytheCountyCouncil.EventheCounty Council, the Charter says that the Council makes decisions by a majority vote. So you take any ordinance thats passed, like a zoning ordinance, and -. The Council today should not pass something that says that the Council in the future cant change it. Thats, we dont know what the conditions are going to be in 20 or 30 years; and, I dont know, in 30 years everybody may think that 1-acre lots with little farms is the best thing that could ever happen. So I, certainly, you know, I understand the sentiment of wanting to lock up an area. But I am concerned and I, without saying wed never do it, I wouldnt recommend a condition like that, nor do I think in, nor do I think that you could really enforce it. Because if you put a condition like that in the ordinance today, the Council can amend the ordinance by majority vote in the future and take that out and say that you can rezone it, and now you can go ahead with your one-acre rezoning at some point in the future. Thats something that we have to live with, that were making decisions at one point in time and other people at another point in the time get to make decisions as well. ALAMEDA:Thank you, Mr. Director. Commissioner Siracusa, you want to follow up on that? SIRACUSA:No. ALAMEDA:Okay. Commissioner Watanabe. WATANABE:I tend to agree with Mr. Iwashita on several points, that, yes, eventually this will amount to gentlemen farms and, yes, the family members, even without subdividing, could share in the appreciation that has occurred over the years. But I also like the fact that I think indirectly the motion is saying that in spite of that we dont want the housing, affordable housing requirements to be diluted. And where I differ from Mr. Iwashita is, I dont have as much of a problem with the spot zoning or whether it even is spot zoning. I understand its right, currently 40 acres. But I dont see any real concerted effort for large farming and maybe three 20EXHIBIT A