We want to make sure you all know that the Santa Cruz City Council has postponed its review of Novin Development’s fast-track application; please make note of the fact that the application is now scheduled to be discussed at the council’s meeting on Tuesday, October 12.

As you may know, the council had intended to hold a hearing on Novin’s SB-35 application for development of 831 Water Street at its meeting last Tuesday, September 14. City staff had recommended denial because of the application’s non-compliance with many of the city’s objective standards.

Then, on September 9, four days (two business days) before the hearing, Novin dropped more than 100 pages of revisions and plans, leaving the council with little choice but to postpone the hearing.

So now the saga continues for at least three more weeks.

Opposing the fast-track approval Novin is seeking, which would allow him to avoid environmental review and a detailed public process for his proposal, remains the focus of our 831 Responsible Development citizens group.

Please continue to let the council know where you stand on this 5- and 4-story behemoth, which would be located just feet from one-story houses, would create massive transportation problems on a key transportation corridor, and would lead to numerous other health and safety issues in this area of our city.

• The email address for council communications is: citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com.
• It can also be helpful to send a copy of a message to the council members’ individual email addresses; they can be found here.

And please also make plans to “attend” the October 12 Zoom meeting to make your voice heard.

• Agendas and video/audio information are available days in advance via this council page.

We remain supportive of affordable housing — and locating it on this very site. But we cannot support a proposal that makes no effort (at all) to be reasonable and responsible.

THANK YOU (very, very much) for your continued support!