Santa Cruz 40

Final decision on Poor Clares expected this week

SEACLIFF -- Residents of this small beach community are planning a last stand against a proposal to zone for affordable housing along State Park Drive.

"This is just the wrong place to put it," said Suzanne Haley, who expects to be among dozens protesting the plan at this week's meeting of the county Board of Supervisors.

After months of discussion about where the county's next high-density project should go, county supervisors are expected to make a final decision Tuesday on whether a mostly vacant parcel in the Seacliff neighborhood is appropriate.

The 13-acre Poor Clares property is one of six selected by county planners to fulfill a state mandate to zone 30 acres for high-density housing by the end of the month. Four of the acres are slated at the Seacliff site. The property's owner, Dominican Hospital, has been on board with the proposal as long as there's room left to build offices and a medical clinic there. The rezoning plan, in addition to housing, calls for six acres for the hospital facilities as well as three for a hotel.

Many in the community say the plan is simply too much and would bring unnecessary traffic to the area as well as put pressure on water supplies and school enrollment.

The county's studies, however, suggest the neighborhood can handle the growth. Neighbors dispute the figures.

Supervisor Ellen Pirie has suggested the impact would not be as great if the housing was reserved for seniors. Dominican Hospital,
Advertisement
however, has not wanted to make that commitment.

The fate of the 600-member Coastlands Church, which currently rents former convent buildings on the site, is also up in the air.

A decision on the Poor Clares property had been scheduled for May, but because of a noticing error it was rescheduled for this week. Also, on Tuesday, supervisors will decide whether to rezone property for high-density housing along Atkinson Lane outside Watsonville.

The board meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday at 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. Discussion of the Poor Clares property is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.