Major Provisions: This measure would amend the charter of the City of Lafayette to limit dwelling unit growth to 3% per year for the next 6 years by limiting the issuance of building permits to 200 per year. It would allow a referendum on an annexation to the city upon a petition of 3% of registered voters (less than the 10% now required for all other referenda). It would also require a vote on whether to extend the terms of the amendment for an additional six year period.

Those in FAVOR say:

-- The growth policy now being implemented by the city (which has allowed for at least 9% increase in each of the past three years) will result in traffic problems, crowded schools, increased taxes, and loss of LafayetteÕs small town character.

-- Residents will not have the open space they want because of the increased cost of land as developers compete to buy near the city.

-- The idea that rapid growth is good for the economy has proven a failure in communities in California.

-- This is not a no-growth amendment but allows for growth at a faster rate than the state as a whole has experienced in the past several years.

-- Once an annexation is approved it is difficult to reverse. It is important to have a mechanism in place which allows citizens to quickly respond to and correct perceived mistakes made by the city council. The present requirement for signatures of 10% is unreasonably high, especially since the voter list is purged so infrequently.

Those OPPOSED say:

-- The cityÕs present Growth Management system, which was based on extensive surveys and community forums, accurately reflects community preferences and has resulted in an average growth rate in the last three years (including 1995 projections) of 6.2%.

-- The present plan has acceptable methods of establishing variable annual building permit caps which allow the City to balance housing types, limit population, and react to market conditions.

-- Fixed low caps will prevent senior and low cost housing projects from developing.

-- Without growth, taxes would have to be raised to fund services and amenities citizens want. Also, the city benefits from the donated land and services of developers.

-- A larger demographic base will have a positive effect on local business as well as attracting quality firms, thus increasing city revenues and bringing other nonmonetary benefits to Lafayette.

-- The 3% required for petition signatures represents fewer than 300 registered voters. Thus, a very small minority could too easily disrupt the effective functioning of the city government. Our chosen officials have a broad view of the whole city's needs and can make the necessary judgements according to community consensus learned from public hearings.