Land Use Policy - Affordable Housing |
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Orlando Osornio |
| What is your position on affordable housing? Please be specific with regards to policies you support or oppose. |
We desperately need more affordable housing in Salinas and across our region. We should strengthen our inclusionary ordinance where possible to ensure market rate developers create as much onsite affordable rental or for sale units as feasible. To help increase the supply of housing we should rezone mixed use commercial and lower density residential areas in all districts of the City to allow for more infill rental housing developments. |
| Do you support modifying city policies and regulations to make it easier and cheaper to build housing? If so, what specific policy changes do you support? |
Yes, we should modify city policies and regulations to make it easier and cheaper to build housing. The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership's 9 Recommendations for Local Governments to increase the supply of affordable housing should be fully implemented. These policies will change impact fees to be based on square footage instead of per unit to incentivize developers to build smaller more affordable units. Another policy is to reduce commercial space requirements to devote more space to housing units instead of underperforming commercial retail and office space. |
| Do you support requiring developers to actually build inclusionary units instead of paying an "in lieu" fee? |
Yes, developers should be required to build inclusionary units onsite unless there are extraordinary conditions and a feasibility study should be presented demonstrating that it is not possible. The whole purpose for having an inclusionary ordinance is so that we have a balanced community where families of all incomes can live in all corners of Salinas. |
| Do you support requiring that inclusionary housing units be made permanently affordable, even upon resale? If not, please explain. |
Inclusionary rental units should be affordable permanently. Inclusionary for sale units should be affordable for 30 years which is the typical length of a first mortgage. An equity share program should be implemented so that owners are incentivized to maintain their homes and have the opportunity to earn equity for refinances or at resales if needed. Home ownership should allow for moderate increases in wealth. This helps not only that specific family but the neighborhood as a whole. |
| Do you support requiring developers of hospitality, commercial, and industrial projects that significantly increase demand for already scarce housing resources to also build workforce housing? |
Yes, I support all major employers if they have access to property or significant financial resources to create housing for their employees. This could help take pressure off our housing crisis, everyone should do everything they can to help, especially if they are creating more impacts because of their growing workforce that needs to be housed as close to their workplace as possible. |
| What other housing policies do you support or oppose? |
I support increasing first time homebuyer programs for new developments so that moderate income families can have a chance at having a long term stable housing opportunity in neighborhoods close to schools, parks, and shopping. Without these programs most families do not have much of a chance at competing with all cash offers from wealthy homebuyers or investors |
Water Supplies |
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Orlando Osornio |
| What specific proposals do you support to ensure your community can meet its water demands without increasing the overdraft of the County's groundwater aquifers? |
Salinas residents should be encouraged to reduce water consumption to help ensure long term sustainability. |
| Do you support expansion of Pure Water Monterey as an alternative to building a desalination plant? |
I support both the Pure Water Monterey project and a Desalination Plant if both are environmentally sound and gain local support. |
Sprawl Reduction |
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Orlando Osornio |
| Salinas recently approved the West Area Specific Plan, which expands low density development onto almost 500 acres of prime farmland, even though the City currently has over 7,580 acres of land for potential economic development within its existing city limits and Sphere of Influence. The City is now considering approval of the Central Area Specific Plan, which would add 792 acres of prime farmland for new development. Do you support this expansion? If so, why? |
I support the approval of the Future Growth Area which includes the West, Central and East Specific Plans. We should maximize all development opportunities in and adjacent to Salinas that is financially feasible. The focus of growth opportunities should be within the City limits where possible such as the Alisal Vibrancy Plan area and the Downtown but our housing needs are so great that we should not limit our growth to these infill opportunities given how challenging and expensive it is to redevelop in these areas. We need all housing solutions on the table. |
| Do you support the creation of "urban growth boundaries" or expansion of the existing boundary as a way to prevent urban sprawl, and to insure that future growth is compact, efficient, and protective of the environment? If not, what measures would you support to prevent urban sprawl? If yes, will you sponsor an urban growth boundary in the upcoming year, and make it one of your top three priorities? |
No, I do not consider an urban growth boundary a priority for Salinas. Most of Salinas is fairly dense in terms of population and overcrowded conditions as it is. We need all solutions on the table including requiring more affordable housing in our Future Growth Areas. We can incentivize redevelopment of infill opportunities through relaxation of local regulations such as impact fees, parking and commercial space requirements. |
Transportation |
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Orlando Osornio |
| Poorly planned, non-infill commercial developments and hotels create more trips and additional vehicle miles traveled on already overcrowded roads and highways. Both residents and visitors pay the price of delay, road impacts, and increased pollution. What specific traffic congestion relief solutions do you support? |
I support traffic congestion relief solutions such as promoting alternative modes of transportation including rideshare programs, public transportation, encouraging working remotely from home, and creating bicycle friendly streets. |
| Do you support roundabouts on Highway 68 and other roads? What other transportation policies or practices have you seen that local governments should incorporate? |
If the studies show that roundabouts will decrease congestion and collisions then they should be installed on Highway 68 and other roads where appropriate. Local governments should promote alternative means of transportation including rideshare programs, public transportation, encouraging working remotely from home, and creating bicycle friendly streets. |
Leadership |
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Orlando Osornio |
| If you are elected, what will be your top three priorities? |
I want to create more affordable housing, allocate more funding for parks and neighborhood improvements, and provide more support to small businesses. |
| What land use policies would you champion for the community? |
I will strengthen our inclusionary housing ordinance to require a higher percentage of affordability for new development. I will also help pass local zoning laws that incentivize redevelopment of properties to create more housing in the Alisal Vibrancy Plan area and Downtown. |
| What accomplishments in your career or public service are you most proud of? |
I am proud of the work the Salinas Small Business Task Force has done to work on relief and recovery efforts that support small businesses during COVID-19. I am grateful to have built a small business that has grown and has allowed me to serve my community at events in Chinatown and National Night Out. Collaboration is critical to solving issues and I am focused on working with others to continue to address local issues. |
Background |
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Orlando Osornio |
| Occupation |
small business owner |
| Years Lived in Area |
31 |
| Education |
High School Graduate |
| Experience |
Small Business Owner |