Agenda - City of Santa Monica

Nonetheless, the Planning Commission recommended that the project provide a total of
10 units (20%) on-site as affordable units. The level of affordability for the units would
consist of five very-low income one-bedroom units, and five moderate-income studio
units defined as 80% of the area median income (instead of typical 100% of area
median as defined by AHPP). The applicant does not agree with the Commission’s
recommendation, and has chosen not to modify their proposal of eight on-site affordable
units. Based on KMA’s financial analysis, the cost to the applicant of providing three
low income studio units @ 60% Area Median Income (AMI), as currently proposed by
the applicant, would be approximately $746,700. A s recommended by the Planning
Commission, the cost to the applicant of providing five moderate income studio units @
80% AMI would be approximately $935,500. The difference between the two scenarios
would be $188,800.
LEED® Platinum Certification
The Commission recommended that the project be designed and constructed to
achieve a minimum LEED® Platinum certification as established by the LEED® Rating
System. The applicant has expressed concerns with achieving platinum status based
on the difficulties in obtaining the required LEED points. The applicant states that
project’s location as an urban infill residential project limits the project from obtaining
readily available points, and is therefore required to seek points in other development
areas that they believe is cost-prohibitive. The applicant has agreed to design the
project to achieve a LEED® Gold certification as established by the LEED® Rating
System.
Solar Panels
The Commission recommended that the project provide an adequate amount of solar
panels that would fully off-set the energy required to operate the common areas (lighting
for internal hallways, etc.) of the project. The applicant proposes to provide 24 solar
panels on t he roof, which may equate to providing approximately half of the energy
required to operate the common areas.
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