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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 03/03/2020March 3, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 1 Approved on September 1, 2020 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE March 3, 2020, 10:00 a.m., City Hall, Champlain Room Members attending: Tom Bailey, Leslie Black-Plumeau; Sandy Dooley, Mike Simoneau, and John Simson; Absent: Paula DeMichele, Monica Ostby, PC liaison Guests: Vince Bolduc (SoBu resident and applicant for appointment to committee), Frank Von Turkovich (guest and SoBu resident), Kelly Lord (SoBu resident, kellyllord@gmail.com), Darrilyn Peters (SoBu resident, darrilynp@comcast.net) AGENDA 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of minutes of 02/04/20 and 02/18/20 committee meetings 3. Chair’s Comments – Committee activities and responsibilities in March 4. Guest Frank Von Turkovich to discuss his development plans, proposed forest block policies, etc. 5. Housing site analysis progress report – Tom and Mike 6. Further discussion of subcommittee to consider zoning changes to promote housing infill and adopt a path forward for the committee 7. Reports and updates by committee members 8. Adjourn 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guess: John called meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. John reviewed exit procedures. John welcomed Vince Bolduc, Frank VonTurkovich, Kelly Lord, and Darrilyn Peterson. Guests had no comments relating to subjects not on the agenda. 2. Review and approval of minutes of 02/04/20 and 02/18/20 committee meetings: Mike moved and Tom seconded motion to approve 02/04/20 committee meeting minutes as drafted. Motion approved: 5-0-0. Tom moved and Mike seconded motion to approve second draft of 02/18/20 committee meeting minutes. Motion approved: 5-0-0. 3. Chair’s Comments – Committee activities and responsibilities in March: John told those present that he would be away for most of March and Sandy would be away for part of March, with the result that neither he nor Sandy would be available for the public hearing on the LDRs proposing to expand and modify SoBu’s Inclusionary Zoning regulations scheduled to take place at the March 16th City Council (CC) meeting. In addition, Vince Bolduc is scheduled to be interviewed at this meeting in response to his application for appointment to the Affordable Housing committee. Patrick O’Brien may also be interviewed for possible appointment at the same meeting. John asked Leslie to represent the committee at the public hearing and present a summary of the proposed new rules. He encouraged all committee members to attend and support Leslie. John then mentioned that Sandy has a conflict the morning of March 31st and asked if the committee would be willing to meet later in the date to accommodate Sandy’s schedule. The committee agreed to meet at 3:00 p.m. on March 31st instead of 10:00 a.m., as previously planned. Sandy thanked committee for their flexibility in response to her conflict. John then proposed that committee set dates for meetings in April. Members present agreed to meet on April 14th and 28th, with a 10:00 start time for both meetings. 4. Guest Frank VonTurkovich to discuss his development plans, proposed forest block policies, etc.: (Note: this discussion included comments relating to the Habitat Blocks agenda item for the Planning Commission’s 03/03/20 meeting though no committee recommendation was formulated.) Frank expressed his concern about the direction of the City in relation to housing development. Interim Zoning has been in place for 14 months March 3, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 2 and nothing is being built. Open Space committee carried out its work, including preparing its “final” report before reaching out to the property owners. Committee needs a broader focus; i.e. housing in general (all prices) not solely “affordable” housing. Sandy mentioned that committee had already identified this as a goal. Need to follow up with CC. Wide ranging discussion followed. John stated that significant involvement of developers in fine-tuning proposed Inclusionary Zoning LDRS had made the package much better. Other members present agreed. Monica asked: how can we improve current LDRs to be more favorable to housing developers? Frank stated that 25 property owners affected by work done under Interim Zoning (IZ) have formed a group to respond collectively to anticipated proposals based on work of IZ committees. Kelly mentioned that she lives in home on Spear Street built in 1835. She stated her dismay at Frank’s negative perceptions of the work being done under IZ. Frank indicated his strongly negative assessment of the Open Space Committee and Arrowwood Associates reports. Sandy encouraged Frank to be less pessimistic about the work of the IZ committees and where it will lead. She indicated that she does not share his strongly negative view. Monica mentioned the possibility of a proposal that would specify certain areas in the City where density bonuses would not be allowed (for example, via TDRs or bonuses [not offsets] for Inclusionary unit requirements). She expects the Planning Commission (PC) to consider this proposal at its meeting tonight (3/3/20). Tom stated that the big map of City that Tom DiPietro (SoBu Stormwater director) prepared for the informal workgroup’s use should be presented at the PC meeting. The question of whether some of the Natural Resource Protection (NRP) zoning districts might not need protection was raised. 5. Housing site analysis progress report – Tom and Mike: (Note: this discussion included comments about the Habitat Blocks agenda item for the Planning Commission’s 03/03/20 meeting though no committee recommendation was formulated.) Discussion began with Mike asking those present what they agreed on. More questions followed. What/where are the spaces suitable for housing? Tom: 63 of the 189 parcels the Open Space committee reviewed include land where housing might be built (before the workgroup’s criteria are applied). How many units of housing could be built on this land based on current density regulations? (No answer). Maybe all the “habitat blocks” shouldn’t be preserved. We need to think 20 years out. How do we want to preserve natural resources and what kind of housing do we want to be built? Land available for housing is fragile and scarce. 70% of Vermont is forested. Perception: TDRs attached to NRP districts have zero value. Where did the 1.2 units per acre in SEQ come from? Vince stated that he was involved in the development of the SEQ LDRs and the purpose of the 1.2 units per acre policy was to assure property owners that they could develop their land. Vince supports increased density where housing is developed, which can be achieved by clustering housing units. Perception stated that City is sending message it wants no more people and no more houses. Concern expressed that this direction is not in the best interest of the City. John: Planning Commission needs to decide what needs to be preserved and City needs to have a map that shows the preserved areas so there is clarity on this subject. For areas that are not preserved, City should have regulations that support compact development, allowing higher density, and having proximity to currently available essential services. Tom indicated that there is not much land available for housing development when common sense criteria are applied to the 63 parcels. Estimate stated was 10 parcels. Those present were positive about Vince’s draft report for the informal working group. Vince and Monica mentioned that committee needs to review new Vermont law (Act 177) and keep in mind the bigger picture. Kelly asked about Vince’s draft report for informal working group. How can she obtain a copy? She maintained that the committee’s agenda posted on the City’s website should have included a link to this report. Committee members agreed with this input. John will explore how this can be done. Sandy gave Kelly her copy of Vince’s draft report. Kelly asked why the committee was discussing housing at all price points when it is the “Affordable Housing” committee. Members responded that a while back they recognized that the supply of housing at all price points and the overall vacancy rates for housing are major factors affecting the supply of affordable housing and, in light of this, it should have a broader focus than “affordable” housing. March 3, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 3 6. Further discussion of subcommittee to consider changes to promote housing infill and adopt a path forward for the committee: deferred to future committee meeting. 7. Reports and updates by committee members: deferred to future committee meeting. 8. Adjourn: At 12:05 p.m., Leslie moved and Tom seconded motion to adjourn. Motion passed 5-0-0.