July 5, 2017 -- A proposal by slow-growth advocates for a major public park in the heart of downtown has been rejected in the final draft of a City plan guiding the future development of Santa Monica's central business district.

After six contentious years, the City’s last draft of the Downtown Community Plan (DCP) heads to its final public hearing during a special meeting of the City Council at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The City also is requiring developers to set aside some of the units for “affordable housing,” which can range from units for those who are extremely low income to moderate earners.

Still, almost 40 percent of the total square footage proposed so far in the DCP belongs to three projects which are primarily luxury hotels, with affordable housing (12 percent or less of each) and some “community” and “cultural” uses added.

Parking spots for residences are cut as well.

Older buildings of one or two stories, which are still prevalent downtown, would be replaced under the DCP by buildings of five to seven stories.