Affordable housing requirement for 5940 Soquel Avenue project
Santa Cruz County
Summary
The Board debated whether to require 15% or 20% affordable units in the KB Home project. The county's 2014 nexus study suggested 23% was feasible for moderate-income for-sale housing, but staff and the developer argued 20% would kill the project. Neighbors said even the affordable units would sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 1
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Feb 24, 2026.
Impact analysis
15 of 100 units will be price-restricted for moderate-income buyers, likely around $420,000-$450,000 for a three-bedroom instead of the $1.2-1.3 million market price.
Moderate-income buyers get a rare entry point to homeownership, and county employees get a purchase preference under the easement MOU.
Critics argue very-low and low-income residents lose out because the affordable units serve moderate incomes, and mobile home park neighbors face new privacy and parking impacts.
Mentions & discussions (1)
Related development
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Santa Cruz County
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.