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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 06/12/2018APPROVED on June 26, 2018 NOTE: Date/time/place of next meeting: June 26, 2018, 10:00 a.m., place TBD AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE June 12, 2018, 9:00 AM, City Hall 2nd Floor Champlain Room Members attending: Tom Bailey, Sandy Dooley, Todd Rawlings, Michael Simoneau, and John Simson (Chair); Members absent: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Larry Michaels, Others present: Monica Ostby, PC liaison; Kevin Dorn, City Manager (10:05 – 10:15 and 11:30 – 11:40) Minutes by Sandy Dooley AGENDA 1. Call to order, safety orientation, agenda review, comments from the public 2. Review May 29, 2018, minutes for adoption 3. Detailed review of city-wide inclusionary zoning revised draft prepared and distributed by Sandy Dooley, June 5th 4. Other business 5. Adjourn 1. Call to order, safety orientation, agenda review, comments from the public: John called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and summarized emergency evacuation instructions. There were no comments from the public. 2. Review May 29, 2018, minutes for adoption: Mike moved and Tom seconded motion that May 29th minutes be approved as distributed. Motion passed, vote: 5-0-0. 2a. Chair’s addition: John informed committee that he (along with Helen Riehle, Kevin Hubbard, and CHT folk) would be going to Montpelier to speak in support of the City’s application for $625,000 in VCDP funding to be included in the budget for the 60-unit Garden Apartments development that Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) will build in City Center. Tom asked for information about this development and Kevin provided copies of the summary that CHT and Housing Vermont gave to the South Burlington Housing Trust Fund. Following a brief discussion, John moved and Tom seconded that the committee endorse the City’s application for $625,000 in Vermont Community Development Program funds to become part of CHT’s $16.238 million budget for the 60-unit family housing development it will build in City Center. Motion passed, vote: 5-0-0. On another subject, John noted that, shortly before the meeting’s starting time, Monica had sent an email to committee members containing a draft LDR section titled “Affordable Housing Offset Package . . .” Because committee members had not had time to review it, John proposed that the committee discuss Monica’s draft at its June 26th meeting. Committee members and Monica agreed to this plan. 3. Detailed review of city-wide inclusionary zoning revised draft prepared and distributed by Sandy Dooley, June 5th Discussion began at the revised draft of section “18.01 G. Affordable Housing Density Bonuses for Fulfillment of Inclusionary Unit Requirements” and included: (a) Members were satisfied with the revision and especially liked the two tables and believe they should be included in the final LDRs. (b) Members were also satisfied with the revised draft of section “18.01 H. Affordable Housing Density Bonuses for Voluntary Provision of Twice the Required Number of Inclusionary Units” and also liked the Tables included. (c) Members were also satisfied with the revised draft of section “18.01 I. Affordable Housing Density Bonuses for Voluntary Provision of More than the Required Number of Inclusionary Units Affordable at or below 80% AMI.” Members asked that Tables akin to those included in the two prior sections be added to this section. Sandy will do this. Monica raised two questions relative to this section: (1) Can this density bonus be limited to certain zoning districts? and (2) Can we provide offsets other than density bonuses? These questions will be discussed at June 26th meeting. (d) Members discussed the revised draft of section “18.01 J. Affordable Housing Density Bonuses for developments with fewer than 12 dwelling units.” Members suggested that the policy would be more easily understood if presented in a Table. Sandy will convert it to a Table presentation. (e) Members supported the proposed regulation regarding Parking Requirements (18.01 K). (f) Members then discussed “18.01 E.(g) Actual Household sizes, actual household incomes, and affordable rents and purchase prices.” Members saw Todd’s redraft as an improvement but believe it needs to be put into context to be understood by the lay reader. Todd explained the context and John asked him to draft a “preamble” for this subsection that conveys this context, which Todd agreed to do. We need to be clear that households may rent or purchase a dwelling unit that exceeds 30% of the household’s income and why “precise matching” of rents and sales prices to the renter or purchaser household’s income is not workable and would limit a household’s housing options. (g) Members then discussed “18.01 D. Inclusionary subdivisions.” Tom questioned whether any eligible household would be able to purchase an affordable building lot. Sandy shared that while households might be challenged in purchasing an affordable building lot, having building lots available at the price proposed would make it possible for Green Mountain Habitat to build many more affordable homes. Todd suggested that the regulation specify one price for all affordable building lots and suggested that this price be the lower of $50,000 per lot (adjusted annually based on CPI changes) or the market price of building lots in the development. Committee discussed whether amount should be $50,000 and agreed to have the price be $60,000. Sandy agreed to make these changes. 4. Other Business: Mike raised the question: May Snyder/Braverman use the affordable units in the Cathedral Square and CHT developments in City Center to meet his inclusionary requirement should he build market rate housing in City Center? John and Sandy said “no” and that the City Center Inclusionary Zoning LDRs had been written specifically to disallow this. Kevin was of a different view. The committee will check this out. Todd shared that Burlington’s Inclusionary Zoning working group has issued its draft report and he will send a link to it to committee members. Sandy asked how the draft deals with density bonuses. Todd said the recommendation is to make them a matter of right. Monica and Sandy asked that the committee discuss the proposed buyout policy ($60,000 per unit) at its June 26th meeting. One question is whether it would function to exclude households of modest means from some parts of the City. Sandy asked Todd what BTV’s draft report says about payments in lieu of building an inclusionary unit. Todd explained that whether a buyout would be allowed would depend on the zoning district’s present status vis-à-vis inclusion. Using Census data the zoning district would be given a high inclusionary rating if households living there represent a broad range of incomes. A zoning district would have a low inclusionary rating if households living there represent a narrow range of above-median incomes. Buyouts would be allowed in districts with a high inclusionary rating. Buyouts would not be allowed in districts with a low inclusionary rating. John complimented committee members and Monica on the progress made at this meeting. 5. Adjourn: Mike moved and Todd seconded the motion at that meeting be adjourned. Motion passed (5-0-0) and meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m. “Bike rack” ● Tom will prepare a “Summary” of the proposed changes (from May 29, 2018, meeting minutes) ● work on Committee’s page on the City’s website ● (Quoted from January 23, 2018, meeting minutes) “John asked Mike to prepare a work plan for the committee to collaborate with Coralee to enhance its effectiveness in communicating with residents via the City’s website and via other means. The plan should include specific assignments to be carried out by identified committee members. Mike accepted this assignment.” Homework (not yet reported on): ● Mike will consult with an accountant regarding what incentives the City might put in place to encourage owners of undeveloped property to sell land at a “bargain price” to private developers. ● Mike will seek Yves Bradley’s input regarding development of more housing along Shelburne Road corridor.