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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 06/20/2017Approved July 10, 2017 South Burlington Affordable Housing Committee MINUTES June 20, 2017 Members Attending: John Simson, Mike Simoneau, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Sandy Dooley and Tom Bailey Members Absent: None Others Present: Kevin Dorn, South Burlington City Manager Minutes: Tom Bailey The meeting was called to order at 4:04 PM by John Simson, Chair. There were no amendments to the meeting Agenda nor was there any public comment. Leslie distributed copies of a PowerPoint prepared by Amy Wright of a Sample Development Budget for an affordable housing development. She described it to the Committee briefly and it was decided to postpone further discussion until a time when the Committee could devote more time and study to it. The Minutes of the June 6th, 2017 meeting of the Committee were discussed with suggested additions by Regina Mahoney and Leslie. Tom moved to accept the minutes as amended, which motion was seconded by Mike. The motion was approved unanimously. The changes to the June 6th minutes are as follows. On page 3, the first line below the web link now reads: “Review of demographics in Chittenden County (time period, approximately 2010 to 2015/6):” On page 3, the 10th bullet now reads: “● VHFA provides rent, purchase price, and income tables related to affordability on the Vermont Housing Data website.” On page 3, the 12th bullet now reads: “● Resources: Burlington’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) website, Grounded Solutions Network, Vermont Housing Data website, “Toolbox” ” On page 4, the first bullet now reads: “● CHT has analyzed what a housing bond could do for the economy. The analysis shows how a $70 million bond for affordable housing could bring $258 million to Vermont. State also developed a similar analysis for a state-wide bond.” The members next discussed the possibility of setting up an affordable housing portion of the City website with links to educational materials to be read by the general public. It was suggested that the Committee prepare an orientation handbook for new Committee members. Then John reported on the roll out to the Planning Commission of the proposed Housing Preservation amendment to the LDRs (proposed Section 18.03) at the Planning Commission meeting on June 13th. Committee members Sandy Dooley and Mike Simoneau also attended. There had been many questions from the Planning Commission members and suggestions from the public at the meeting. Tom described research he had been doing to understand the current LDRs with the goal of figuring out how to incentivize the development of affordable housing, and he summarized his discussion with Ray Belair, the City Administrative Officer. He followed up on a discussion begun at the Committee’s last meeting of how housing is exempted from Act 250 jurisdiction under state statutes. Tom met with Peter Keibel, an Act 250 coordinator in the Essex Junction office. Peter indicated that such exemptions would only apply in approved Neighborhood Development Areas so designated by the state (South Burlington has such an approved area in City Center district) and then subject of other limitations as well. A discussion of the Committee members followed concerning housing in City Center. It was questioned whether additional areas within the City could also receive the same state designation. Then there followed a wide ranging but fruitful discussion of ideas for improving the LDRs to incentivize the construction of affordable housing in the City. The Committee agreed that the following distilled foci will be explored: 3-5 areas in the City will be pinpointed for proximity to services and transportation for special incentives (and reduction of disincentives) for the development of high density housing (more than 200 units each) of which a substantial percentage would be affordable. The affordability goal range would be aimed towards populations having 65-100% AMI. To encourage as many units as possible, high or unlimited maximum and significant minimum density will be considered. Limiting or eliminating permitting and impact fees will be studied. Waiver of parking and similar requirements will likewise be studied. Since the time and associated expense of the permitting process is a major deterrent to development, permitting would be simplified and streamlined. John summed up the Committee’s goal in this regard as seeking a “sweet spot” by coming up with a basket of specific incentives to encourage private developers to initiate development of high density housing in the identified areas, especially affordable housing. The Committee members discussed the possibility of using the PUD model for designing such an LDR amendment. The Committee agreed that Paul Connor, the Director of Planning and Zoning, will be invited to the next meeting (on July 10th) and that the Planning Commission would be solicited to send one of its members as a liaison to work with the Committee on its plans. Next John described a request from City Council that the Committee provide a recommendation as to whether the City should adopt a Rental Registry ordinance with a possible goal of monitoring a new influx of rental housing near the University of Vermont. The new inflx has apparently resulted in formerly single family dwellings inhabited by large numbers of students, which is a violation of zoning in that zoning district. John referenced by way of illustration a Rental Registry ordinance enacted in Rockford, Illinois from research he had done. Mike asked whether such an ordinance is within the Committee’s mission and John responded that the City Council (the Committee’s appointing authority) had requested it. John acknowledged that such an ordinance is an enforcement tool. Kevin acknowledged that a couple of neighborhoods were starting to turn into student ghettos but added that enforcement would be difficult. After further discussion, Leslie volunteered to research into Rental Registries and John indicated he would continue as well. John next described an idea he had for offering City owned land to competing developers to come up with the best housing proposal. The incentive to the developers to complete the housing would be the free land. The Committee discussed it. Leslie moved to adjourn and Mike seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:06 PM. Date draft minutes circulated by e-mail to Committee members: June 20, 2017.