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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 08/08/2017Approved on August 21, 2017 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE August 8, 2017, 4:00 PM, City Hall Members attending: Sandy Dooley, Michael Simoneau, John Simson (Chair) Members absent: Tom Bailey, Leslie Black-Plumeau Others Present: Monica Ostby, liaison from SoBu Planning Commission, and Kevin Dorn, City Manager Minutes by Sandy Dooley AGENDA 1. Welcome 2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda 4. ADDED: Review and approval of minutes from the July 25, 2017, Committee meeting. 5. Wrap up housing preservation amendment language 6. CHT covenant draft for owner occupied housing 7. Congregate housing language 8. Expansion of Inclusionary zoning: city-wide or in priority districts and Incentives for developers. 9. Begin drafting outline of strategy for promoting the penny for affordable housing 10. Schedule next meetings 11. Adjourn 1. Welcome: John called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and welcomed Monica Ostby, liaison from Planning Commission to the meeting. 2. Agenda review: Sandy requested that “review and approval of minutes from the July 25, 2017, Committee meeting” be added to the agenda. All members present agreed to this addition. 3. Comments, etc.: There were no comments from the public. 4. Review and approval of draft minutes of July 25, 2017, committee meeting: Sandy moved and Mike seconded that the minutes of the July 25, 2017, committee meeting be approved with the following modifications: (a) Insert the following paragraph after the first paragraph – Mike moved and John seconded that the minutes of the July 10, 2017, committee meeting be approved as drafted. (b) In what is now paragraph three of the draft July 25 minutes, line three, delete the fourth word (“the”). (c) In what is now paragraph six of the draft July 25 minutes, line one, change the word “sink” to “link.” (d) In what is now paragraph six of the draft July 25 minutes, line two, make the word “explain” past tense (“explained”). Committee approved motion unanimously. 5. Wrap up housing preservation amendment language Mike moved and Sandy seconded that the first sentence of Section 18.03, subsection H. Administration of the draft Housing Preservation land development regulations be modified to read as follows: “The City of South Burlington Housing Authority, if any, or a bona fide qualified non-profit organization, such as Champlain Housing Trust or Cathedral Square, shall be responsible for the ongoing administration of this section as well as for the promulgation of such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement this section.” Committee approved motion unanimously. 6. CHT covenant draft for owner-occupied housing John shared language he had drafted relative to whether re-sales of owner-occupied affordable replacement housing units must be sold subject to “affordability” requirements. Sandy and Mike endorsed John’s proposed language, which would modify Section 18.03, subsection F. item (5) of the draft Housing Preservation land development regulations as follows: “Each owner occupied replacement dwelling unit(s) must be sold as an "affordable housing" unit as that term is defined in Article 2 of these regulations subject to a covenant restricting sale for a ten year period to an owner occupant who qualifies by income subject to the same standard as the initial owner occupant of the property.” Sandy moved and Mike seconded that Section 18.03, subsection F. Replacement Dwelling Unit Requirement, item (5) of the draft Housing Preservation land development regulations be modified to incorporate John’s proposed language. 7. Congregate housing language Sandy had sent the following language relative to congregate housing to committee members and others prior to the meeting: “In addition, Section 18.03 applies to units that are designed, used, constructed or occupied as separate living quarters for one (1) household which include independent and exclusive cooking, sleeping, and sanitary facilities for a household, and direct access to the unit from the outside of the building or through a common hall; and contained within a housing facility that is permitted as a congregate care facility. Section 18.03 does not apply to group homes, residential care facilities, or skilled nursing facilities as defined in the South Burlington Land Development Regulations.” Following discussion, Mike moved and John seconded that Sandy’s proposed language be added as a second paragraph to 18.03 Housing Preservation, Subsection B. Applicability. Committee approved motion unanimously. Homework: Sandy agreed to review email exchange with Planning Commission (PC) chair Jessica Louisos in an attempt to clarify how specifically the PC expects to modify the current definition of “affordable housing” in the SoBu LDRs. 8. Expansion of Inclusionary zoning: city-wide or in priority districts with incentives for developers The committee had a wide-ranging discussion of the pros and cons of the two different approaches— city-wide or priority districts. The committee decided to defer any action on this subject to a meeting at which all members are present. One suggestion was to identify cities of similar size to SoBu that had implemented Inclusionary Zoning citywide and determine to what degree this approach had been effective. 9. Begin drafting outline of strategy for promoting the penny for affordable housing The committee and Monica discussed various approaches focusing on desire to designate some of the funding for lower density housing (e.g. single-family, duplex, triplex). We need to compose a purpose statement that effectively and persuasively conveys the economic and social benefits of increasing the supply of affordable housing (and what it is) in SoBu. Having a land bank was suggested. John shared with committee members the substance of a conference call a task force had had that mentioned Bellingham, Washington’s successful ballot item to finance affordable housing. This initiative relied on a large and encompassing coalition to convey its message to voters. Also mentioned was using the Facebook page, SoBu Community Watch, to have a conversation about the need for funding to support affordable housing in SoBu. Attendees agreed that while this may be something we would eventually promote, we are far too early in the process to engage in such a “conversation.” The committee is in discussion stage re outline at this point. This work will continue. 10. Schedule next meetings (delayed until August 21, 2017 meeting) ● Next meeting: August 21, 4:00 p.m. John will invite Dave Mullin, executive director of Green Mountain Habitat to attend. (Note: invitation extended and Dave will attend on August 21st.) 11. Adjourn – Mike moved and Sandy seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Committee approved motion unanimously at 6:05 p.m.