Oakley is in a position to lose the opportunity to develop commercially zoned property that would increase tax revenue for Oakley residents. The high-density affordable housing proposal for Empire Av and Carpenter Rd, scheduled for discussion this Tuesday evening, January 23, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, will be built on commercially zoned property if approved. The property is a prime location for traffic and surrounding residential housing. Such properties have a history of attracting businesses that generate a sizable sales tax revenue for cities. The high-density apartment-like housing would remove that property from commercial development, causing the town to lose potential income.
The loss of income is another reason I propose the high-density affordable housing complex for the intersection. I am still appalled that Councilmember Williams said, on October 10, 2023, during a council meeting, that the project is needed because Oakley has not built enough affordable housing and does not want affordable housing in our midst’s. The notion that Oakley has not constructed its share of affordable housing is untrue.
I mentioned a few days ago that the project is in a position to use regional general revenue bond money to construct the project. Homeowners and their families will pay the regional bond money to build affordable housing in a nine-county area through a property tax increase, reducing the money available for their families—another reason I staunchly oppose the project.
Now is the time to contact your council member to voice your concerns about the proposed high-density affordable housing project. One can do this by attending the city council meeting on Tuesday night or emailing the council at:
Below are links to a council meeting on October 10, 2023. One can hear Councilmember Williams say that she believes Oakley has not constructed adequate, affordable housing and backs the regional bond issue to ensure more affordable housing is built in Oakley.
The video is lengthy, so a link to the meeting minutes provided summarizes the conversation on the dais regarding affordable housing and the regional bond measure.
One will not see Councilmembers Williams and Shaw on the dais. They were on a junket to Orlando, courtesy of the Tri-Delta Transit. Both attended the council meeting telephonically.
I have provided links to an Empire Avenue and Carpenter Road vicinity map and the developer’s project concept.
https://videos.files.wordpress.com/qo5dcGCV/city-council-10-10-2023-1705794254192.mp4
Oakley City Council meeting October 10, 2023
George Fuller, Ed.D.
City Councilmember, City of Oakley