Sprekels Development
Standard Pacific Homes is the developer for 73 homes being built on 16 acres west of the historic town--Spreckels. The project will include single and two-story homes ranging in size from 1,298 to 2,845 square feet. The expected costs for the homes will be $600,000 to $800,000. The houses will be constructed so as to keep with the town’s architectural style.
Late in the game there seemed to be some confusion as to whether the developer would have to pay for “inclusionary housing”. At the county Board of Supervisors meeting last Tuesday it was decided that the developer will have to pay more that $500,000 in fees to support affordable housing in Monterey County.
Standard Pacific Homes had argued that because the building site was set aside for housing in 1907, the county has little legal basis to impose such a fee. The County planning staff and lawyers disagreed. The determining factor may have been the 2003 county law, which requires developments that do not include affordable housing to pay an “inclusinary fee” to support construction of such homes as these.
Work has begun on the project and the county has already issued 20 building permits for the 73 home subdivision. Supervisors said they would not issue any more permits until the developer pays the fee.
