The League supports an adequate housing supply in Fremont that is of all types, sizes and costs. We encourage the Council to met the ABAG goals for housing, especially in the low and extremely low categories.

Knowing that the market does not easily produce units in the extremely low category, we encourage you to look for other options to provide it. Raising the cap on redevelopment fees would provide the needed funding to move some projects forward in areas where there is public transit and where shopping amenities are available to residents who do not have cars. Redevelopment funds and finding grants from private donors and foundations appear to be the only ways to attack the problem of problem of providing extremely low cost housing. That coupled with higher density near transit stations would make it more feasible.

It will be important that the units in the affordable categories be well-managed and maintained by non-profits that have an excellent track record in property management. Focusing on building rental units would provide more housing opportunities than providing housing for a few families who are lucky enough to purchase houses on the lottery system. We are recommending a shift in the way developers contribute to affordable housing stock by using in lieu fees because the housing could be closer to transit and these could be rental units that would serve more residents. Fremont could begin to solve the problem of how to provide more housing units for low and extremely low income working residents in this manner.

We encourage you to reflect these changes in the updated General Plan.