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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - FEE DEFERRAL-HABITAT FOR HMNTY (2)Agenda Item: 14 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT �% J NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval: /j J2���✓ Item to be presented by: Robert Newman DATE: October 28, 2014 SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF IMPACT FEE DEFERRAL FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Public Works RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council: 1. Approve the deferment of certain development impact fees to issuance of certificates of occupancy for the Habitat for Heroes project (Master Case 12-132). 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval. BACKGROUND At the regular City Council Meeting on October 14, 2014, the City Council heard public testimony and directed that an item be agendized regarding fee deferment for the Habitat for Heroes project. The Habitat for Heroes project, approved by the City Council on April 9, 2013, is approved for up to 87 affordable -housing units for veterans of the United States military and their families along Centre Pointe Parkway. The developer, Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys (Habitat for Humanity), is a locally run, independent 5016 organization. The financing for these homes will be provided by Habitat for Humanity and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). Habitat for Humanity has stated this project is using an atypical developer funding model, and the funding schedule is tied to certain production outcomes with Ca1Vet. In a letter dated October 13, 2014, Habitat for Humanity requested a fee deferment for all fees until certificates of occupancy are issued and residents can occupy the housing units (see attached APPRGEE730 letter). Habitat for Humanity says the fee deferment is critical to allow progress with construction and obtain funding from Ca1Vet. The City of Santa Clarita's (City) current fee deferment program expires on June 30, 2015. The program allows for the deferral of Bridge and Thoroughfare, Quimby, and Transit Impact fees from map recordation to building permit issuance when construction of structures begins. Similar fee deferments for development impact fees were requested of and approved by the William S. Hart Union High School District, Saugus Union School District, and Castaic Lake Water Agency for the Habitat for Heroes project. Habitat for Humanity has amended their fee deferment request to apply to two phases of their project consisting of 57 units. An Agreement has been drafted to allow deferment of Library Facilities and Technology Mitigation fees and Major Bridge and Thoroughfare fees to issuance of certificates of occupancy. The Agreement will be recorded with the County Recorder of the County of Los Angeles as a lien for payment of the deferred fees and shall release the obligation when payment in full is made. The Agreement can also apply to future phases of the project if necessary. City staff and the City Attorney's office have determined the City's implementation of existing resolutions and ordinances regarding fees, fee amounts, and collection of fees could allow some accommodation but only for development impact fees for Library Facilities and Technology Mitigation fees and Major Bridge and Thoroughfare fees. Quimby and Transit Impact fees are not eligible for deferment. The development impact fees are imposed to mitigate impacts from new projects. Deferred collection of the Library Facilities and Technology Mitigation fees and Major Bridge and Thoroughfare fees from issuance of building permit to issuance of certificates of occupancy poses limited risks to the City that could be mitigated through the Agreement. Staff recommends to continue to require the payment and collection of fees at the appropriate amount due for services that will be provided during construction of the project. These fees include building inspection services, administrative processing of permits, and other state -mandated fees to cover City costs incurred during the project construction phase. Development impact fees eligible for deferment for the two phases of the project are estimated at $16,187 per single-family unit and $32,374 per duplex. Per the Agreement, Habitat for Humanity requests these fees be paid at issuance of certificates of occupancy. The remaining fees of nearly $12,290 per single-family unit and $24,783 per duplex are to be paid by Habitat for Humanity at building permit issuance (see Exhibit C in Agreement). While the Agreement will provide City staff the necessary authority to defer collection of certain development impact fees, there are still concerns of complications with escrow, which may delay a resident's move into their home. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council 2 FISCAL IMPACT All associated fees for permits, inspection service, and development impact fees remain an obligation of the Habitat for Heroes project. Collection of Library Facilities and Technology Mitigation fees and Major Bridge and Thoroughfare fees will be at issuance of certificates of occupancy per unit. Other fees related to services will be paid at building permit issuance for each unit. ATTACHMENTS Letter - Habitat for Humanity Request for Deferral Agreement for Fee Deferral I Habitat for Humanity '`Ai; rf� t Jdt aiii;.'%Tw. „iryg Serving North Los Angeles City & County HAND DELIVERED October 13, 2014 Mayor Laurene Weste City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Mayor Weste: 21031 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 610 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-884-8808 • www.HumanityCA.org As you know, Habitat for Humanity San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys is in the process of building an 81 home community for low-income veterans and their families. Many community leaders and members have joined us in our efforts and the City of Santa Clarita and its staff have been wonderful partners in our endeavor. Santa Clarita is home to a disproportionally high percent of veterans (7% versus the national average of 1%). These young men and women have risked their lives and their futures for our country and we believe they have earned the opportunity to own a decent, affordable home in our community. Through our relationship with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), we have the opportunity to access funds raised through voter approved General Obligation Bonds. In this process, which is atypical of the traditional developer funding model, our funding schedule is tied to certain production outcomes, such as (1) foundations being set and then (2) drywall in and roofs on and finally (3) Certificates of Occupancy. We have reached a difficult point in our construction because of a very complicated soils situation on the property. In fact, we found that the need to cut and compact soil in some areas was over 50 feet deep, five times the original soils report. This has resulted in a large number of lots being placed on settlement monitors and long delays in being able to begin the construction of the foundations. As a result it has become critical due to our funding scheduled from CalVet to defer development fees from public agencies. We received approval for the deferment from the Castaic Lake Water Agency Board on October 8, 2014. Now critical is forbearance regarding fees and permits on the part of several entities to allow us to move forward with our work for our veterans while we wait for the settlement monitors to allow us to continue. The deferral of fees will partially allow us to continue to move forward with our construction while we wait for the settlement monitors to fully allow us to move forward and we obtain the necessary funding from CalVet. The Hart and Saugus School District and the CLWA have given us positive indications and will consider deferring their fees at their Board meetings on October 14 and October 15. For this reason, we request that the City of Santa Clarita agree to defer payment of all fees until Certificate of Occupancy, including the B+T fees, the Quimby fees and the attached fee schedule. This amount is the following: Quimby Fees: $ 6,195 per unit B&T Fees: $15,416 per unit City Fees to pull permits attached: $ 4,296.16 per unit $25,907.16 z Please note that in the case of the B&T Fees we are in the process of purchasing credits which will meet our obligation. This purchase will be completed before the end of the year. Consequently, if we were required to pay B&T Fees at this time the City would turn around in two months and refund those payments to us when we provided the City with our B&T Credits. We understand that this request must be considered by the City Council and as a result further request that it be put on the Agenda for your October 28, 2014 meeting. Thank you in advance for your support! Humbly and in support of our veterans, Donna E. Deutchman CEO Habitat for Humanity, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys 5 Recording requested by, and when recorded return to: The City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 300 Santa Clarita, California 91355 Attention: City Manager Space Above This Line For Recorder's Use AGREEMENT FOR DEFERRAL OF DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES This Agreement for Deferral of Development Impact Fees ("Agreement") is made effective as of , 2014 ("Effective Date") by and between the City of Santa Clarita ("City"), a general law city and municipal corporation, and Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys, Inc., a California non-profit public benefit corporation ("HFH"). The City and the HFH may be referred to herein individually as "Party" and collectively as the "Parties." RECITALS A. HFH is the owner of certain real property in the City, as more particularly described in Exhibit "A" ("HFH Veterans Housing Project") attached hereto and incorporated herein. The HFH Veterans Housing Project is a community for low income Veterans and their families, originally planned for and with land use entitlements allowing eighty-seven (87) homes but now expected to be built out at approximately eighty-one (81) homes. The financing for these homes will be provided by HFH and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. B. The first phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project involves the construction of twenty-six (26) homes out of the planned eighty-one (81) homes ("First Phase"). A description of each of the homes included in the First Phase is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "B". C. The second phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project is expected to involve the construction of thirty-one (31) homes out of the planned eighty-one (81) homes ("Second Phase"). The specific addresses and legal descriptions of the homes to be built in the Second Phase are not yet known. D. For any homes constructed within the boundaries of the City, the City is authorized to collect development impact fees as outlined in Section 17.51.010 of the City's Municipal Code ("Development Impact Fees") as well as fees related to the processing of project plans and inspection of construction as outlined more completely in Title 3 of the City's Municipal Code ("Administrative Fees"). LA #4832-6161-0271 v1 1 W E. As part of its collection of Development Impact Fees, the City collects fees that are passed on to non -City agencies for impacts on those agencies' facilities (Non - City Fees). F. HFH has requested that the City's collection of City -imposed fees be deferred until the close of escrow for each home in the First Phase and Second Phase, and may seek further deferrals. G. City has agreed to defer the collection of Development Impact Fees for the First Phase and Second Phase, but has represented to HFH that based upon language in the City's Municipal Code some Development Impact Fees, as well as all Non -City Fees, must be collected at the time building permits are issued for the HFH Veterans Housing Project. H. The Parties agree that some Administrative Fees will be due at the time building permits are issued and some Administrative Fees will be due when certificates of occupancy are issued based on governing City regulations. I. The Parties agree that the Development Impact Fees, Non -City Fees, and Administrative Fees applicable to the First Phase and Second Phase are those fees set forth in Exhibit "C." J. The Parties desire this Agreement to govern not only the First Phase and Second Phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project, but further phases if necessary. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties do hereby covenant, declare and agree as set forth below: AGREEMENT 1. Acknowledgement of Development Impact Fees Non -City Fees, and Administrative Fees. HFH hereby acknowledges that it has a mandatory duty to pay the City all applicable Development Impact Fees, Non -City Fees, and Administrative Fees as applicable to the First Phase and Second Phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project. The Parties agree that all Development Impact Fees and Non -City Fees, as well as some Administrative Fees, are due and owing at the time City issues building permits to HFH. 2. Deferral of Development Impact Fees. Notwithstanding Section 1 of this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree to defer the payment of specified Development Impact Fees associated with individual homes constructed within the First Phase and Second Phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project until close of escrow on each individual home: (i) Library Facilities and Technology Mitigation Fee LA #4832-6161-0271 V1 2 (ii) Major Bridge and Thoroughfare Fees. 3. Payment of Other Fees Owed. HFH agrees that it will pay all Non -City Fees and those Development Impact Fees not identified in Section 2 at the time building permits are issued for each individual home in the First Phase and the Second Phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project. HFH also agrees that it will pay all Administrative Fees for the First Phase and Second Phase at the time they are due and payable in connection with the processing and approval of plans or the inspection of construction. 4. Lien for Deferred Development Impact Fees. HFH agrees that HFH's obligation to pay the Development Impact Fees identified in Section 2 shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the City and that, as required by Government Code section 66007, Exhibit "B" contains a description of each unit in the First Phase affected by this lien but that HFH shall provide any additional legal description needed for recordation and shall provide legal descriptions for all units included in the Second Phase within thirty (30) days of HFH's determination of the units to will be included in the Second Phase. Upon receipt of same, City shall record this Agreement in the office of the County Recorder of the County of Los Angeles, and the Parties agree that from the date of recordation this Agreement shall constitute a lien for the payment of the deferred Development Impact Fees, which lien shall be enforceable against successors in interest to the HFH. Recordation of the Agreement in the grantor -grantee index shall name the City as grantee and HFH as grantor. The City shall record a release of the obligation as to each individual unit, containing a legal description of that unit, in the event the obligation on that unit is paid in full. 5. Retention of Overall Obligation. HFH agrees that it will notify the City of the opening of any escrow for the sale of an individual unit in the First Phase and Second Phase and HFH agrees to provide in the escrow instructions for each individual unit deferred Development Impact Fees be paid to the City from the sale proceeds in escrow prior to disbursing proceeds to the HFH. In the event that the deferred Development Impact Fees are not paid to the City concurrent with the close of escrow, HFH hereby warrants, represents, and agrees that HFH shall be obligated to pay the City such Development Impact Fees notwithstanding the close of escrow. If HFH is required to pay Development Impact Fees under this Section, HFH shall pay the City any such due and owing fees within ten (10) business days from the applicable date of the close of escrow. If HFH fails to pay the City any Development Impact Fees under this Section, City shall have the right to demand payment of all Development Impact Fees on the remainder of HFH Veterans Housing Project and to refuse to issue any further permits or inspections until all Development Impact Fees previously due have been paid to the City. 6. Administration of Agreement and Future Phases. The City Manager and his designee(s) are authorized to administer this Agreement, including but not limited to executing amendments to this Agreement to approve, in his discretion, deferral of Development Impact Fees for future phases of the HFH Veterans Housing Project on the same terms contained herein, and executing such other documents and LA #4832-6161-0271 v1 3 9 amendments to this Agreement as are necessary to achieve the purposes of this Agreement. 7. Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall commence upon the Effective Date of this Agreement and extend until all Development Impact Fees have been paid for each home within the First Phase and Second Phase of the HFH Veterans Housing Project. 8. Termination by City. This Agreement may be terminated by the City upon three (3) days' notice for HFH's failure to timely pay Development Impact Fees as required herein. Notwithstanding any termination, any Development Impact Fees not timely paid shall remain an obligation of HFH until paid in full. 9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successor and assigns of the City and HFH. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the City and HFH and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements between the Parties with respect to the subjects hereof. This Agreement may be modified only in writing signed by both Parties hereto. HFH may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an entity or entities having ownership or control rights over the HFH Veterans Housing Project (or underlying property) with the express written consent of the City, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. 10. Amendment/Waiver. No amendment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the Party against whom it is asserted, and any such written waiver shall only be applicable to the specific instance to which it relates and shall not be deemed to be a continuing or permanent waiver unless so specifically stated. 11. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any provision hereof shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity of any remaining provisions herein and all remaining provisions shall be given full force and effect separately from the invalid or unenforceable provision. 12. Recitals Exhibits and Captions. Each Recital set forth herein and each Exhibit referenced herein and attached hereto is hereby incorporated as an effective and operative provision of this Agreement. The captions in the section headings are for convenient reference only and in no way define, describe, extend or limit the scope or intent of this Agreement nor the intent of any provision hereof. 13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts. When each Party has signed and delivered at least one such counterpart, each counterpart shall be deemed an original and, when taken together with other signed counterparts, shall constitute one agreement which shall be binding upon and effective as to all Parties. LA #4832-6161-0271 V1 4 1 14. Due Authority. Each person signing this Agreement on behalf of a Parry represents and warrants that he or she has been duly authorized by such Party to sign, and thereby bind such Party to, this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SAN FERNANDO/ SANTA CLARITA VALLEYS A California non-profit public benefit corporation By:_ Name: Name: Title: LA #4832-6161-0271 v1 5 EXHIBIT A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF HFH PROPERTY LOT 1 OF TRACT NO. 72039 IN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 1374, PAGES 85 THROUGH 88, INCLUSIVE, OF MAPS. LA #4832-6161-0271 vl EXHIBIT B PROPERTY DESCRIPTION OF EACH HOME IN THE FIRST PHASE Number Address I City/State/Zip Code Living Space 1 1 21700 Doss Place (single story) Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,216 1 87 21701 Doss Place (single story) Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,216 1 2 21702 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 86 21703 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 3 21704 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 a5 21705 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 4 21706 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 84 21707 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 5 21708 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 83 21709 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 6 21710 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 82 21711 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 7 21712 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 81 21713 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 8 21714 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 80 21715 Doss Place Santa Clarke, CA 91350 1,586 1 9 21716 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 79 21717 Doss Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 71 21702 Jack Place (single story) Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,216 1 72 21704 Jack Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 73 21706 Jack Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 74 21708 Jack Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 11586 1 75 21710 Jack Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 76 21712lackPlace Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 77 21714 Jeck Place Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,586 1 78 121716 Jack Place (single story) Santa Clarita, CA 91350 1,216 IA #4832-6161-0271 v1 / I ^ EXHIBIT C ESTIMATED FEES APPLICABLE TO THE FIRST PHASE AND ANTICIPATED TO BE APPLICABLE TO THE SECOND PHASE Notes: Each duplex structure contains two units. The above are estimated fee amounts. Actual amounts due for each fee will be based on the fee schedule in effect at the time HFH submits applications for building permits and certificates of occupancy and upon the content of those applications. A^Building Fees are inclusive of: Fire District Fee, Law Enforcement Impact Fee, Plan Check application processing, Plan Check services, Building Inspection Fee, Building Standards Commission, Electrical Fees, Mechanical Fees, Plumbing Fees, Sewer Fees, Strong Motion Fee, Record Maintenance Fee, Permit Issuance LA #4832-6161-0271 V1