Incentives Sought for Low-Cost Housing

The Building Industry Assn. plans to ask the Oxnard City Council to relax some of its building standards to help bring more affordable housing to the city.

At a study session during the Tuesday council meeting, the association will propose that the city offer various incentives to builders to construct affordable units, according to council documents.

The city currently mandates that developers either build units for lower-income residents or pay fees to the city. Last month, the council voted to increase those fees to $3,400 per apartment and $4,100 per single-family home. The fee increase prompted protest from the association and led to the study session.

Rather than charging fees, the association would prefer that the city consider offering up to a dozen incentives, such as reducing street widths and parking requirements, allowing the use of alternate roof and fence materials and allowing smaller lot widths and lower-grade appliances. The association also requested that the city eliminate the requirement for fire sprinklers in homes smaller than 5,000 square feet.

If approved, each of those items would reduce the cost of new homes and allow them to be offered at lower prices to buyers and renters, according to the association.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 305 W. 3rd St.