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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJim Cefalia (PA2003-201)CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 2 December 4, 2003 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: James W. Campbell, Senior Planner (949) 644 -3210, jcampbell @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Coastal Residential Development Permit No. 2003 -002 206 E. Balboa Boulevard APPLICANT: Jim Cefalia, Newport Beach The applicant proposes to demolish a nonconforming 6 -unit apartment building located at 206 E. Balboa Boulevard and plans to construct three single family residences. The site is comprised of 3 lots that are zoned R -2, so the development of three single family homes or three duplexes is possible. The demolition of more than 3 units within a single building requires the approval of a Coastal Residential Development Permit pursuant to Chapter 20.86 of the Zoning Code. Approve Coastal Residential Development Permit No. 2003 -002 subject to the findings and conditions of approval contained within the attached resolution (Exhibit No. 1). DISCUSSION Government Code Section 65590 regulates the demolition or conversion of affordable housing within the Coastal Zone. When affordable units are proposed to be eliminated through demolition or conversion, the units are required to be replaced at a one - for -one basis if feasible. Several exemptions are provided for; however, the project does not qualify as it is not a conversion to a non - residential, coastal dependent use, it is not a demolition of a declared public nuisance, and it is not the reconstruction of a nonconforming building damaged by natural disaster. Information collected from the tenants indicates that 4 units are occupied by low or moderate income households based upon 2003 income limits published by the State Department Housing and Community Development. CDRP No. 2003 -002 December 4, 2003 Page 2 Since the City does not have an established affordable housing in -lieu fee program, the City conducted a financial feasibility study to determine whether or not it is feasible to include the 4 replacement units within the proposed project. The study was prepared under the direction of the City by Keyser Marston Associates who the City selected as a qualified consultant. The financial feasibility study is attached as Exhibit No. 2. Since 4 affordable units cannot be included in a 3 unit development project that the applicant plans to construct, the study evaluated financial aspects of a theoretical 6 unit development. The project site is comprised of 3 lots zoned R -2 and a 6 unit project (with 4 affordable units) would is consistent with the General Plan and Zoning. The financial analysis concludes that the applicant's cost to develop 4 moderate income units and 2 market rate units (6 total) would exceed sales revenues by an estimated $865,000. Therefore, it is concluded that it is financially infeasible to require the applicant to replace the 4 lost affordable units within the development. With a finding of infeasibility, the demolition can be authorized and the applicant is not required to replace the lost affordable units. Due to a reduction in affordable housing as a direct result of the project, staff has negotiated the payment of an in -lieu fee. The applicant has consented to the payment of $13,500 for each affordable unit demolished, $54,000 total. This amount is the approximate per unit cost to the City for the Bayview Landing senior affordable housing project. If this fee is collected, it will be added to the City's affordable housing fund that presently has a balance of approximately $2.5 million. This fund is used by the City to increase the supply of affordable housing within the City. Using the fund to subsidize this project was not considered cost effective due to the size of the project and the high revenue gap of $865,000. Environmental Review The project qualifies for a categorical exemption per Section 15301(1)(2) of the California Environmental Quality Act implementing guidelines which exempts the demolition of up to 6 units within small residential structures within an urbanized area where no significant environmental resources are present, or are known to exist on the development site. Staff believes that the project qualifies since the project site is devoid of environmental resources. Public Notice Notice of this hearing was published in the Daily Pilot, mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the property and posted at the site a minimum of 10 days in advance of the hearing consistent with the Municipal Code. Additionally, the item appeared upon the agenda for this meeting, which was posted at City Hall and on the city website. CDRP No. 2003 -002 December 4, 2003 Page 3 Alternatives The Planning Commission has limited options with this project. The Commission can change the suggested in -lieu fee or not require it at all. Since it is not feasible to replace the affordable units lost, requiring the applicant to do so will effectively kill the project unless an alternate funding source is found. As noted previously, staff does not believe financial assistance by the City is advisable. Denial of the applicant's request to demolish the units will not ensure the preservation of the 4 affordable units since the City is not in a position to mandate their preservation. Prepared by: Co James Campbell, 8enior Olanner EXHIBITS 1. Draft resolution for project approval. 2. Financial feasibility study. Submitted by: Patricia L. Temple, Prannifib Director This Page Intentionally Left Blank Ai Exhibit No. 1 Draft resolution for project approval I This Page Intentionally Left Blank RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH APPROVING COASTAL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NO. 2003 -002 FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 206 E. BALBOA BOULEVARD (PA2003 -201). THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH HEREBY FINDS, RESOLVES AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. An application was filed by Jim Cefalia, with respect to property located at 206 E. Balboa Boulevard, and legally described as Lots 4, 5 & 6, Block 4 of the Newport Bay Tract, requesting approval of Coastal Residential Development Permit No. 2003 -002 to authorize the demolition of a 6 -unit apartment building within the Coastal Zone containing 4 units occupied by low or moderate income households. Section 2. A public hearing was held on December 4, 2003, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 3300 Newport Boulevard, Newport Beach, California. A notice of the time, place and purpose of the aforesaid meeting was given. Evidence, both written and oral, was presented to and considered by the Planning Commission at this meeting. Section 3. The Planning Commission finds the following: Government Code Section 65590 requires the replacement of dwelling units when demolished if they are occupied by low or moderate income households and located within the Coastal Zone. 2. Information supplied by the applicant indicates that 4 of the 6 units located at the subject property are occupied by low or moderate income households. 3. A financial feasibility study was conducted by Keyser Marston & Associates to determine whether or not it is financially feasible to replace the 4 affordable units proposed to be demolished. The feasibility study concludes that it is financially infeasible to require 4 replacement affordable units at the subject property. 4. Due to the reduction in affordable units within the City with the demolition proposed, the applicant should mitigate that loss through the payment of an in -lieu fee to the City, which can be used to increase the affordable housing supply within the City. 5. An in -lieu fee of $13,500 per affordable unit ($54,000 total) has been proposed by the City and the applicant has agreed to the payment. Section 4. Based on the aforementioned findings, the Planning Commission approves Coastal Residential Development Permit No. 2003 -002 subject to the payment of an in -lieu fee to the City of Newport Beach in the amount of Fifty -Four Thousand Dollars ($64,000). I Planning Commission Resolution No. Page 2 of 2 Section 5. This action shall become final and effective fourteen days after the adoption of this Resolution unless within such time an appeal is filed with the City Clerk or this action is called for review by the City Council in accordance with the provisions of Title 20, Planning and Zoning, of the Newport Beach Municipal Code. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2003. BY: Earl McDaniel, Chairman FEW Michael Toerge, Secretary AYES: NOES: 16 Exhibit No. 2 Financial feasibility study E This Page Intentionally Left Blank 1� K E Y S E R M A R S T O N A S S O C I A T E S I N C. ADVISORS IN: 500 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 1490 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071 BY REAL ESTATE RECEIVED PHONE: 213/622 -9095 T REDEVELOPMENT APPONDAOLB HOUSING FAX: 213/622 -5204 pL,p,NNING InlAR cArH AIC�IIr? ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WWW.KEYSERMARSTON.COM CITY (1C V vd 1 2003 PM AM LOS ANGELES MEMORANq�* 11011i11� I i I 3141B18 1 Calvin E. Hollis, I1 Kathleen H. Head James A. Rabe Paul C. Anderson Gregory D. Soo -Hoo SAN DIEGO To: James Campbell, Senior Planner Gerald M. Trimble Paul C. Marra City of Newport Beach SAN FRANCISCO A. Jerry Keyser From: Kathleen Head Timothy C. Kelly Julie Romey Kate Earle Funk Debbie M. Kern Robert J. Wetmore Dater November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study At your request, Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. (KMA) evaluated the impact of the Coastal Commission replacement housing obligations on the development proposed at 206 E. Balboa Boulevard (Site). Jim Cefalia (Developer) is proposing to demolish the six apartment units currently located on the Site, and then to construct three single - family homes in their place. It has been determined that four of the units are occupied by low or moderate income households, which triggers Government Code Section 65590 (Section 65590) replacement housing requirements. The purpose of the KMA analysis is to evaluate the financial feasibility of imposing the replacement housing obligation on the proposed project. BACKGROUND STATEMENT Section 65590 requires that any time units occupied by low or moderate income households are demolished to allow for new development, the existing units must be replaced on -site. However, municipalities have the option to he this obligation in the following instances: 1. The jurisdiction determines that it is financially infeasible to include the replacement units in the proposed development; or 2. If the municipality has an established in -lieu fee program, the developer can pay a fee rather than providing the replacement housing units on -site. No financial feasibility evaluation is required. CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS 0311012.NP8CH:RHHJR:gbd 16091.001110B To: James Campbell, City of Newport Beach November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study I Page 2 The City of Newport Beach (City) does not currently have an established in -lieu fee program. It is therefore necessary to perform a financial feasibility evaluation for the project. If it is ultimately determined that it is not financially feasible to develop the replacement units on -site, the City has the right, but not the obligation, to impose an in -lieu fee on the proposed development. METHODOLOGY The Developer is currently proposing to build three market rate single - family homes on the Site, which has been deemed the highest and best use of the Site from a financial perspective.' Since the proposed development is not large enough to fulfill the four -unit Section 65590 replacement housing obligation on -site, even if it is assumed that it would be financially feasible, It is necessary to consider an alternative development scope when evaluating the replacement housing issue. The zoning in place on the Site allows for the development of up to six units, which would physically accommodate the four -unit replacement housing obligation. To determine whether it is financially feasible to fulfill the replacement housing obligation on -site, it is necessary to prepare a pro forma analysis for a six -unit development in which two units are sold at unrestricted market rate prices and four units are subject to income and affordability restrictions (On -Site Replacement Alternative). KMA prepared a financial feasibility assessment for a six -unit townhome project, which is presented in Table 1. The KMA financial feasibility evaluation includes the following components: An order of magnitude estimate of the cost to develop six townhome units. 2. A sales revenue projection based on: a. The sales prices achievable for two market rate units; and b. The allowable sales price for four moderate income units based on the affordability standards imposed by California Health and Safety Code Section 50052.5 (Section 50052.5). 3. The profit or loss generated by the development being analyzed. ' An appraisal prepared by Michael J. Francis, MAI on July 16, 2003 (Appraisal) concluded that the proposed project represents the highest and best use of the Site. CELEBRATING 30 YEARS oFSERVIcE To OUR MENTS �t 0311012.NPBCN:KHH:JR:gbd 16091.001/M To: James Campbell, City of Newport Beach November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study Page 3 ANALYSIS Project Description The Site includes 7,200 square feet of land area, and its major characteristics can be described as follows: 1. The Site is comprised of three legal lots; 2. Each lot is 30 feet wide and 80 feet deep; 3. Each lot is.zoned R -2, which allows for the development of a single - family home or a duplex without discretionary review by the City; 4. The maximum gross floor area for each lot is 3,360 square feet; 5. The maximum building height is 24 feet; and 6. Two parking spaces are required per unit. Based on these requirements, the scope of the On -Site Replacement Alternative is based on the following assumptions: 1. Six attached units in three two -story duplexes; 2. The units includes the following: a. 1,300 square feet of gross living area (GLA); b. Three bedroom and two- and -a -half bathrooms; and C. A 350 square foot attached tandem configured garage. Financial Analysis KMA estimated the developer profit generated by the On -Site Replacement Alternative based on the following assumptions: Total Development Costs KMA estimated the development costs for the On -Site Replacement Alternative using the following information sources: CELE£RSTING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS 0311012.NPBCH:KHH:JR59bd To: James Campbell, City of Newport Beach November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study Page 4 The Appraisal submitted by the Developer; 2. Cost estimates submitted by the Developer; and 3. KMA's experience with multi - family development projects recently undertaken in the Orange County market area. The development costs have been estimated based on the following assumptions: The Site acquisition costs total $1.8 million, or $250 per square foot of land area. The Appraisal concluded that the acquisition costs represent the current fair market value of the Site. 2. KMA estimated the direct construction costs as follows: a. The on -site improvement costs are estimated at $12 per square foot of land area; and b. The shell costs are estimated at $103 per square foot of gross building area (GBA).2 3. The indirect costs and financing costs are based on the following assumptions: a. The Developer estimated the public permits and fees costs at $31,100 per unit. The City staff should verify the accuracy of this estimate. b. KMA estimates that the balance of the indirect and financing costs will equal 40% of the direct costs. As can be seen in Table 1, the development costs are estimated at $3.53 million. This equates to $588,300 per unit for the six -unit project. Total Sales Revenues Market Rate Units KMA attempted to locate recent home sales comparables for attached units to assist in projecting the achievable market rate prices for the 1,300 square foot attached homes. However, KMA found that the majority of the new development in the immediate vicinity of the Site has been focused on significantly larger units, and we were only able to identify one 2 The Appraisal estimated the building and garage costs at $93.28 per square foot of GBA. A 10% premium is added to reflect the cost to build attached units. ' CELEBRATING 30 YEARSOFSER VICE TO OUR CLIENTS t 0311012.NP8CH:MH:JR:9bd 18091.0011008 To: James Campbell, City of Newport Beach November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study Page 5 comparable condominium sale in the 1,000 to 1,500 square foot range. This unit is located at 600 E. Ocean Front, which is approximately'/ mile south of the Site. The unit was built in 1971, it includes 1,310 sgware.feet of GLA, and it sold for $680,000, or $519 per square foot of GLA. Given the lack of truly comparable home sales to be used as value indicators, it was necessary for KMA to broaden the search to include recent detached single - family home development. The Appraisal identified 10 recent sales for homes ranging from 1,860 to 3,145 square feet of GLA, and sales prices ranging from $606 to $763 per square foot of GLA, with an average of $658 per square foot of GLA. It is clear that detached homes will achieve a premium over the sales prices that can be achieved for attached homes. However, for the purposes of this analysis, KMA assumed that the maximum price that could be achieved for the 1,300 square foot attached units would be $658 per square foot of GLA, or approximately $855,000. Thus, the total sales revenue for the two market rate units is projected at $1.71 million. Moderate Income Section 50052.5 defines the methodology that must be employed to calculate the restricted sales price for units being sold to moderate income households. The benchmark standards identified in Section 50052.5 can be described as follows: The income available for all housing related expenses is calculated as follows: a. The household size used for affordable housing costs calculation purposes is always set at one more person than the number of bedrooms in the unit. For instance, the household size for a three - bedroom unit is set at four persons. b. The household income is set based on data published by the State of California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). The applicable percentage for price setting purposes is 110% of the Orange County median income (Median). Based on the 2003 Median and a four - person household, the applicable household income is set at $72,160. C. The affordable housing costs are calculated based on 35% of the defined gross household income. 2. The ongoing housing related expenses are estimated as follows: a. KMA estimated insurance and maintenance expenses at $2,200 per year for three - bedroom units. CELEBRATING 30 YEARS of SERVICE ro OUR CLIEws 15 0311012.NPBCR:KKRJR:9hd ' 10091.0011008 To: James Campbell, City of Newport Beach November 7, 2003 Subject: 206 E. Balboa Boulevard - Financial Feasibility Study Page 6 b. Utility expenses are estimated at $1,656 per year for three - bedroom units, based on the allowances published by the Orange County Housing Authority. .t C. An allowance for private mortgage insurance (PMI) is provided at 0.50% of the loan amount. d. Property taxes are calculated at 1.1 % of the estimated affordable sales price for the units. 3. The following assumptions were applied to determine the maximum affordable sales price: a. The interest rate for the first trust deed mortgage is estimated at 6.75%, and the amortization period is set at 30 years. The resulting mortgage constant is 7.78 %. b. The homebuyer down payment is set at 5% of the restricted sales price of the unit. Based on the preceding assumptions, the affordable purchase price for a moderate income household purchasing a three- bedroom unit equals $238,600. The resulting total sales revenue for the four income restricted units totals approximately $954,000. Total Sales Revenues The projected sales revenues for the market rate units total $1.71 million and the sales revenues for the moderate income units are estimated at $954,000. The total sales revenues for the six -unit project total $2.66 million. Developer Profif!(Loss) KMA estimated the total development costs at $3.53 million and the sales revenues at $2.66 million. Thus, the development costs exceed the projected sales revenues by $865,000. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The KMA analysis indicates that the development costs for the On -Site Replacement Alternative exceed the revenues that could be anticipated to be received from the project. It is therefore, the KMA conclusion that it would be financially infeasible for a developer to undertake such a project. As such, the Developer should not be required to fulfill the Section 65590 obligation on- site. The City, however, does have the option to impose an in -lieu fee on the proposed three - unit project, if it so chooses. CELEBRA77NG 30 YEARS OFSERi7CE TO OUR CLIENTS 0311012.NP8CH:KHH:JR:9bd 18091.0011008 �D TABLE 1 FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS 206 E. BALBOA BOULEVARD NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA Protect Description $856,400 Land Area (Sf) 7,200 # of Units ( 6 Density (Units /Acre) 36 Product Type Duplexes Gross Buildina Area (Sf /Unit) $1,800,000 Gross Living Area (GLA) 1,300 Tandem Garage Space 350 Total Gross Building Area /Unit 1,650 Unit Mix (3- Bedroom Units) Market Rate Units 2 Moderate Income Units 4 II. Average Market Rate Price $856,400 Per Square Foot GLA $658 III. Moderate Income Price $238,600 Financial Analysis 1. Estimated Development Costs Land Costs 2 $1,800,000 Direct Costs' 1,102,000 Permits & Fees" 187,000 Indirect/Financing Costs s 441.000 Total Development Costs $3,530,000 Per Unit $588,300 II. Estimated Safes Revenues Market Rate Units $1,711,000 Moderate Income Units 854.000 Total Sales Revenues $2,665,000 III. Developer Proft((Loss) Calculation Total Sales Revenues $2,665,000 (Less) Total Development Costs (3.530.000) W. I Developer Profit! Loss $865 000 ' Calculated based on California Health and Safety Code Section 50052.5 standards. t Based on the July 16, 2003 appraisal prepared by Michael Francis, MAI (Appraisal). 3 Based on the Appraisal estimates for single - family home construction,, plus a 10% premium for attached housing construction. Based on Developer's estimate of $31,100 /unit. s Assumes the indirect and financing costs total 40% of the direct costs. 0 Prepared by: Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. Filename: Feasibility Analysis; jlr; 1117/2003