The city council finds it necessary to establish requirements and procedures for the control and approval of residential condominium new construction and residential condominium conversions. By their unique character and requirements, condominium and condominium conversion projects differ from other subdivisions and apartments. The uniqueness of these projects tend to magnify the effects associated with higher urban densities to the point where they may lead to conditions of mismanagement, neglect, and blight that impact the public health, safety, welfare, and economic prosperity of the city. These projects may conflict with the city policies of providing a reasonable balance of rental and ownership housing within the city and within the city's neighborhoods; providing a variety of individual choice of tenure, type, price and location of housing; and insuring an adequate supply of rental housing for low- and moderate-income persons and families. It is also recognized, however, that these projects may benefit the city by providing a source of low- and moderate-income ownership housing. To insure that problems are avoided in both the short- and long-term, while maximizing the benefits of these projects, it is the intent of the city to treat these projects differently from the multi-unit dwellings or other structures that are not condominium new construction and condominium-conversion projects. This chapter is intended to apply only to residential condominium projects-both new construction and conversions-and to insure these projects are consistent with policies and objectives of the city, particularly the following:
A. To make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community;
B. To facilitate inhabitant ownership of residential units, while recognizing the need of providing a reasonable balance of rental and ownership housing;
C. To help mitigate the impact of eviction for residents of rental units as a result of their units being converted to condominiums;
D. To inform existing tenants and prospective condominium purchasers of the construction or conversion applications, its overall impacts, and the physical conditions of the structure offered for purchase; and
E. To insure that new units being constructed, and rental units being converted to condominiums, meet the reasonable physical standards required by this chapter and all other provisions of this code. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)