What Do You Want New Housing To Look Like? Tell Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The city of Santa Cruz is seeking residents' feedback on new housing development standards that are in the works.

Participants can complete the survey through June 1 for two chances to win a $50 gift card to New Leaf Community Markets, the city announced Monday.

Santa Cruz said it seeks to write more specific standards for housing developments so that multi-family housing and mixed-use projects developed in the future "enhance the built environment of Santa Cruz and create comfortable new homes for residents."

The city asks: "What places feel distinctly 'Santa Cruz-y'? What makes them feel that way? What are the similarities and differences between your neighborhood and other neighborhoods in the City? What are the features that make a building fit in or stand out as different?"

Participants may consider features such as:

• Building heights.
• Setbacks from neighboring properties.
• The number, size and placement of windows.
• Landscaping.
• Lighting.

The city said it began this effort after changes in state law that seek to support the development of new housing. Learn more about the project here.

Take the survey here.