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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 03/22/2023March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 1 Approved on April 19, 2023 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE March 22, 2023, 11:00 a.m., meeting held online and at City Hall Members attending: Janet Bellavance, Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, , Darrilyn Peters, John Simson, and Chris Trombly; members absent: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Tom Getz, Emily Holt-Gosselin, and Ariel Jensen-Vargas; also present: Jessie Baker, City Manager, Kelsey Peterson, City Planner (briefly); also absent: City Councilor Meaghan Emery (CC liaison to AHC) AGENDA 1. Call to order, approve agenda, announcements, public comment 2. Discussion of 2024 City Plan Community Conversation on Housing & Shelter and finalize Committee Feedback for the Planning Commission 3. Adjourn 1. Call to order, approve agenda, announcements, public comment Call to order: Chris called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. Approve agenda: Darrilyn moved and Janet seconded motion to approve the agenda as proposed. Approved: 6-0-0. Announcements: None. Public Comments: as no members of the public attended, there were no public comments. 2. Discussion of 2024 City Plan Community Conversation on Housing & Shelter and finalize Committee Feedback for the Planning Commission: Context: Six Affordable Housing Committee members submitted their notes on the Community Conversation on Housing & Shelter held on 03/15/23 to Sandy Dooley. She compiled and distributed them in advance of the AHC meeting on 3-22-23. The members present used these notes as guidance in identifying the major themes to be listed in this report. Darrilyn volunteered to prepare report and Janet offered to assist her. Discussion began with members sharing that they were pleased with the number of folks who attended the “Conversation”, the diversity of those in attendance, and the level of participation in the discussion by those present. The committee’s goals for the “Conversation” were met and then some. Discussion included input on types of housing (wanting more variety throughout the City), noise pollution, Paul’s first slide very impactful, SoBu moving from majority homeowner households to majority renter households, age of City residents is getting younger, concern about two South Burlington’s (SEQ and the rest of the City), desire for improved quality of housing and need for more parks and other amenities near all neighborhoods of the future, City needs to direct more human and financial resources to housing. Members discussed possible methods to gain revenue that might be directed toward housing. This included Jessie’s provision, at members’ request, of data about where the City ranks in the county vis-à-vis the level of property taxes charged to residents. Her source was a report by White & Burke, local real estate development consultants. According to this report, SoBu has fourth (4th) lowest property tax rate (municipal and school combined) among the 17 municipalities in the county. The three with lower property tax rates are Charlotte, Milton, and Underhill. Rates of some of the larger municipalities are as follows: Burlington – 2.25; Essex City – 2.65; Williston – 2.03; and South Burlington – 1.92. The discussion concluded with identification of three themes to report to the Planning Commission and decision to include the compiled notes from the meeting with the report. The report, as well as the compilation of all of the notes, are attached to these minutes. 3. Adjourn: (12:15 p.m.) By mutual agreement and with thanks to Darrilyn and Janet for volunteering to write the report, the group informally adjourned the meeting. March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 2 MEMORANDUM TO: Paul Connor, Director of Planning & Zoning Kelsey Peterson, City Planner FROM: Affordable Housing Committee SUBJECT: Themes from Community Conversation on Housing & Shelter on 3/15/23 DATE: March 29, 2023 Participants The Housing & Shelter session was attended by residents of every section of the city, had over 40 participants in the room and 15 online. None of the other 10 conversations approached this level of participation. Discussion There were dozens of comments addressing issues and concerns from the granular to the general. A summary of all the comments is attached. MAJOR THEMES/POLICIES South Burlington needs higher density housing with a variety of amenities and housing types throughout the city; and the highest density should be in the transit overlay district. In order to maintain a positive quality of life for residents of high density areas, these growth areas need more resources, such as pocket parks with trees, playgrounds, community garden spaces, and safe streets and bike paths, especially for children. South Burlington needs to provide additional financial resources for the development of housing and for the development of neighborhood amenities; and needs to identify how to increase these resources. March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 3 March 15, 2023 Comprehensive Plan Conversation on Housing and Shelter NOTES BY AHC MEMBERS, COMPILED BY SANDY DOOLEY Inclusive, Fair, & Just: -Lower impact fees -Cooperative housing options -Encourage infill and adaptive reuse by changing zoning (without creating exclusive neighborhoods) -Greenspace/playgrounds near affordable housing -When building housing, remain cognizant of noise pollution, traffic pollution, walkability, transportation routes etc. -People really dislike the F35s -Construct more high density housing and transit Human Focused: -Issue with apartment zoned as commercial and residential (ex: dump trucks at 5am) -Expand municipal services (and other services? no one gave examples) by assessing budget -State spending millions on a new prison (not human focused), is it possible to reallocate that money -Rezone land near airport/Chamberlain to build affordable housing (and, presumably, relocate(?) the F35s) -Revisit green space construction near City Center (it was on the plan but never implemented), addition of gardens -Zoning and equity; create more livable neighborhoods while dispersing income mix Climate: -Create more affordable housing (and transpo) so people don't have to drive as much to/from work or live outside of the city -Implement more accessible/efficient transportation system (bike paths, busses) -Housing with renewable resources, energy efficient, electric Opportunity Oriented: -did not get notes specifically on this category, yet I think many of the aforementioned items allude to the possibility of more work/life opportunities if implemented. March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 4 I was struck by how a room full of motivated people can subtly intimidate the minority into silence. What happened Wed was the opposite of has been going on at PC and CC meeting for the past years with the NIMBYs in defense of animal habitats, trees, and open space. I heard a cry for higher density throughout the City, not just in the Transit Overlay district. I heard widespread recognition for more housing everywhere. I heard a lot of surprise at the 51% of land already protected. I heard recognition that we are part of a larger region with needs for both housing and climate. Need for responsibility. I heard concern about the need for workers and older citizens. I heard that it was “punitive” to conserve so much land at a cost to needed housing and rewarding to the wealth with large lots. I heard distain for exclusivity. I heard fears of impact fees and other measure that increase the cost of housing. I heard that we need to be prepared to welcome more people. I obviously heard a lot about the F35’s too • increase housing trust fund and decrease impact fees for AH • Pursue alternative housing situations to increase options for AH and keep costs low (cooperative housing) • to ensure high quality of life for residents in dense housing there must be access to green space, community gardens, playgrounds, pocket parks so kids have a place to play and adults have outdoor public green space with trees. This is a necessary amenity and should be built into housing design. • Reclaim airport land that F35's took over and use for AH • Zoning R4 is good for all parts of the city; don't limit density to certain parts of the city; invest in resources in high density areas (transit, community center, etc); plan density and transit together • safe streets for bike riding so kids can get to school independently • need charter change; proportional to population (23,000 people) so we have adequate representation • Future of UMall related to our comp plan -- housing, commercial, green space • Build it, build it, build it for economic development so our workers have housing; some people choose to live in the country March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 5 • good to have lands in SEQ to access trails for people's quality of life More parks in areas of City with highest density development. Need safer streets in areas in which kids can ride their bikes. Children living in Garden Street apartments misbehave because they have no place to play. More resources for housing; fewer (or no) City fees for affordable housing; need more housing. Current zoning relegates housing for lower income households to certain arias of the city Several comments seeking elimination of F-35s (not sure city can do anything about this) and development of housing in area (Chamberlin neighborhood) the City of Burlington purchased as part of the housing buyout and demolition program Rules to allow higher density housing in all parts of City. Should not allow dumpster emptying at 5 a.m. next to mixed use building that includes residential units Housing should be given higher priority. Need for more and more affordable housing is of equal importance to climate change challenge. Lack of housing opportunities at many price points is a drag on economic development. Need more housing so that people can live closer to their jobs. Need to address housing and climate change from regional perspective Opposition to exclusivity of zoning for SEQ Need improved bike and pedestrian paths and transit Even where bus service is most frequent, it is still very limited Include in new Comp Plan that City will not allow development (other than housing) of land (44 acres was mentioned) that City of Burlington purchased as part of the housing buyout and demolition program Need to assess capacity of City to increase revenues to support more services that residents want What happened to park City Center? No real response to infill question (too little time) Public transportation is a major problem throughout the city, including: crossing Shelburne Road to get to Orchard School, access to events at Veterans Park, to get to work, open spaces, etc Conserved land is primarily in areas where the affluent live. Rezone SEQ to increase density F35, Chamberlin houses removed, children cannot play outside during test flights March 22, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 6 Tenants rights problems in affordable housing in City Center Holistic development requires a plan to build more housing, more outdoor spaces, access to transportation High density areas need more resources such as parks, playgrounds, safe streets and bike paths, especially for children Businesses report that the lack of housing and childcare are major obstacles in recruiting employees Increase funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Community gardens would promote affordability and “greener” city; also are a priority of some new residents who want to grow their own food Building costs increasing not only because of inflation, but also due to green energy rules, increases in impact fees, design approval process Infill requires neighborhood discussions in order to identify what to preserve, e.g. small backyards?