EXHIBIT 10-C
DRAFT
FINDINGS OF APPROVAL
CONSIDER APPLICATOIN FOR VARIANCE
OF SEPARATE WATER METER REQUIREMENT FOR A 19 UNIT SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECT AT 669 VAN BUREN STREET, MONTEREY (APN: 001-512-020)
JANUARY 25, 2017
1.
FINDING: MidPen Housing Corp., as developer of an affordable housing
project for the City of Monterey, is requesting Board approval of a variance to
allow the existing water Connections to provide service to 19 low-income
housing units at 580 Pacific Street, Monterey, through sub-meters on each User.
EVIDENCE:
Application for Variance attached as Exhibit 10-A.
2.
FINDING: District
Rule 23-A-1-i requires that individual Water Meters maintained by the Water
Distribution System Operator be installed for each Residential and Non-Residential
water User except as allowed in 23-A-1-i-(3), (4), and (5). Rule 23-A-1-i-(3), (4), and (5) allows for
the use of sub-metering when the installation of separate Water Meters is not
feasible due to a moratorium on the setting of Water Meters. However, it also requires that the sub-meters
be replaced with Water Meters of the Water Distribution System Operator within
ninety (90) days of the conclusion of a Connection moratorium.
EVIDENCE:
Rule 23-A-1-i-(3), (4), and (5).
3.
FINDING: Requiring
individual Water Meters for this senior affordable housing project would cause
an undue hardship by increasing the project costs and increasing the cost to
the low-income tenants.
EVIDENCE:
Application for Variance attached as Exhibit 10-A.
4.
FINDING: Installing
individual Water Meters for each unit increases the project construction costs,
potentially jeopardizing the project.
EVIDENCE:
Application for Variance attached as Exhibit 10-A.
5.
FINDING: The
project will be built with in-line meters installed to monitor water use in
each apartment, providing a method for individual accountability of water use
and encouraging conservation.
EVIDENCE:
Application for Variance attached as Exhibit 10-A.
6.
FINDING: There
have been three similar circumstances where variances were granted for
permanent in-line meters at affordable housing project in the MPWMD: The Pacific Meadows senior housing project in
Carmel Valley; Osio Plaza Apartments with 30 low to
moderate housing units in the City of Monterey, and; Vista Point Apartments
(South County Housing) with 49 low-income senior housing units in the City of
Pacific Grove.
EVIDENCE:
Records of variance proceedings on file in District office.
7.
FINDING: Exterior
water use will be tracked with a separate Water Meter.
EVIDENCE:
Condition of Approval.
8.
FINDING: Granting
a variance from the separate Water Meter requirement for the proposed senior
affordable housing project will not defeat the purpose of Rule 23-A, which is
to encourage individual accountability for water use. Granting this variance will not compromise
water conservation at the City of Monterey site.
EVIDENCE:
MidPen Housing Corporation will promote individual
accountability for water use at 580 Pacific Street, Monterey, by installing
in-line meters to each unit. In-line
meters will provide MidPen Housing with the
information necessary to promote water conservation in the event of water
rationing.
9.
FINDING: In
granting the variance, the Board has approved the following Conditions of
Approval:
1.
In-line
meters for each unit must be installed and maintained. The in-line meter data
must be accessible to the building management to assist with water use tracking
during times of rationing. The
applicant/owner shall provide this information to the District upon request;
2.
Outdoor
water use at the project site will be separately metered.
3. The Board’s approval is time
limited to one year. Within the year,
the applicant must obtain water and building permits.
EVIDENCE:
Minutes of the January 25, 2017 regular Board meeting.
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Hearings\10\Item-10-Exh-C.docx