Santa Monica Planning Commission Meeting May 6, 2026

The Santa Monica Planning Commission held a meeting on May 6, 2026, primarily focused on discussing the implementation of the city's realignment plan related to housing and development. Key procurement-related topics included proposed incentive programs to encourage low-scale housing along boulevards, a downtown housing bonus incentive program, and strategies for maximizing community benefits from city-owned sites in the downtown area. Commissioners debated the merits and challenges of waiving affordable housing production program (AHPP) fees for certain ownership housing projects, the potential impact on affordable housing trust funds, and the feasibility of incentivizing larger family-sized units. The commission also discussed zoning and height limits, the possibility of exempting city-owned sites from zoning ordinances to allow more flexible development, and concerns about commercial displacement. The commission voted to adopt resolutions of intention (ROIs) for the realignment plan, with direction to staff to revise the ROIs by removing the boulevard low-scale incentive program from the current iteration and to incorporate commissioner feedback in future recommendations. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were mentioned, but the discussions have implications for future development projects and city land use policies.