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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 01/08/2019Approved on January 24, 2019 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE January 8, 2019, 10:00 AM, City Hall, Champlain Room Members attending: Tom Bailey, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Sandy Dooley, Larry Michaels (as of 10:13), Michael Simoneau, and John Simson Member absent: Todd Rawlings Also present: Monica Ostby (as of 10:20), PC liaison; Maida Townsend, State Representative (Chittenden 7-4, airport neighborhood in South Burlington) Minutes by Sandy Dooley AGENDA 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of minutes of 12/8/18 committee meeting 3. Chair’s comments: Report on meeting with Regina Mahoney at CCRPC, report on VNRC rejection of CVOEO grant 4. Plan for moving forward with Inclusionary Housing with Planning Commission 5. Discuss and set 2019 Work Plan 6. Set dates for future meetings 7. Adjourn 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests: John called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. He noted how to exit from building. John welcomed Rep. Maida Townsend to the meeting. Maida indicated that once the legislature convenes, she is unlikely to be able to attend. Members agreed to add review and approval of 12/8/18 meeting minutes as item 2 on agenda and change numbers of subsequent agenda items accordingly. . 2. Review and approval of minutes of 12/8/18 committee meeting: Leslie moved and Mike seconded motion that the minutes of the 12/8/18 meeting be approved as drafted. During discussed Tom noted that the following sentence in the third paragraph under agenda item 3 should be deleted: “A principle that Paul articulated regarding any modification of LDRs is that the City should not downzone property without providing fair compensation to the owners of the affected property.” Sandy indicated that, consistent with this deletion, the following bullet statement should be added under agenda item 4, “Committee members support principle that any modification of LDRs in which City downzones property must include fair compensation for owners of affected property.” Leslie and Mike informally modified their motion to include these amendments to the draft minutes. Motion passed 5-0-0 (Larry not yet present). 3. Chair’s comments: Report on meeting with Regina Mahoney at CCRPC, report on VNRC rejection of CVOEO grant: John shared that he and Sandy had met with Regina Mahoney (CCRPC) on January 4th. They shared the latest draft of the Inclusionary Zoning LDR proposal and a memo Sandy had sent to Jessica Louisos reviewing the proposed changes/additions point by point. Regina will review the draft and identify where it needs changes and/or clarification. In order for Regina to meet with the committee, John proposed that the next committee meeting take place on Thursday, January 24th, 10:00 a.m. as Regina is not available on Tuesday, January 22nd. The committee agreed to this meeting date/time. John also shared that he and Sandy will be meeting with Regina on January 23rd, in preparation for the January 24th committee meeting. John indicated that he had just, that morning, received a “Vermont Housing Committee Municipal Survey”, which Paul Conner had sent him. The survey initiators/sponsors are CVOEO’s Fair Housing Project (Tim Wimpey and Jessica Hyman). Members present briefly discussed the questions on the survey and possible responses. To expedite completion of the survey, Tom moved and Mike seconded that the members present delegate to John the task of completing the survey. Motion passed 6-0-0. Sandy shared that she had spoken with Brian Shupe, ED of the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), about the process and basis for rejection relating to VNRC’s decision regarding CVOEO’s Smart Growth grant application. Brian indicated that CVOEO may submit a new application and that there is no application deadline. An application may be submitted at any time. John and Sandy will explore with Ted and Jessica whether it appears worthwhile to submit a second application. The next subject for discussion was Larry’s motion made and passed at the December 8th, 2018, committee meeting (contained within agenda item 4, page 2 of meeting minutes). John indicated that, as a result of the City Council’s support for funding work by CCRPC to assist in implementation of Inclusionary Zoning, he had decided to delay writing this letter until he discussed the situation with committee members. Members agreed with his decision to delay writing this letter. Members then engaged in a discussion of whether to send any letter at all or, if John were to send a letter, what subjects it should cover. Monica stated that it is important for the AH committee to support the 1.2 dwelling units per acre in the SEQ (based on entire SEQ acreage). Sandy indicated that while she supports item 2 in Larry’s motion (re Inclusionary Zoning), it is not in the Interim Zoning resolution, and due to Council’s support for parallel process for implementation, it should not be in any letter that the committee sends. Larry indicated that he could not support a motion that does not indicate support for more than 1.2 dwelling units per acre in the SEQ. Sandy suggested that our concerns about new housing units in SEQ may be addressed in new LDRs for Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). Sandy then moved and Tom seconded that, in substitution for the letter outlined in Larry’s 12/8/18 motion and on behalf of the committee, John write a letter to the City Council regarding future SEQ development that: (1) articulates support for an average density target in the SEQ of no less than 1.2 dwelling units per acre; (2) articulates that any reduction in future dwelling units in the City negatively impacts the affordability of all homes in the city; (3) articulates that having new homes for sale generates sales of older, more affordable homes, when households “move up” to higher-end housing; and (4) articulates that this approach to future housing development in the City can be compatible with the goal of greater protection of natural resource areas. Motion passed 6-0-0. Sandy indicated that she had drafted emails for K. Dorn and D. Young to send to City and School District employees, respectively. Mike added that he had reviewed the drafts and supported them as drafted. Members decided to postpone further discussion of these emails to a later date. Tom then shared some thoughts regarding TDRs. He has concluded that there is no market for TDRs. In light of this, the City might eliminate them and adopt low-density “conventional” residential zoning in the entire SEQ (thus eliminating the Natural Resource Protection Zones). There was some discussion questioning whether Planning Commission or City Council would support this as it is inconsistent with Comprehensive Plan. Monica suggested that LDRs be modified to allow TDRs to be transferred to zoning districts outside the SEQ; for example, Institutional-Agricultural, Swift Street, and Commercial districts. This would permit even higher density in these districts than is currently allowed. This proposal pits TDRs against Inclusionary Bonus Units, assuming Inclusionary Zoning is implemented citywide. 4. Plan for moving forward with Inclusionary Housing with Planning Commission: The Plan is for the committee to work with Regina Mahoney of CCRPC to accomplish this outcome. Regina will attend the 1/24/19 committee meeting. 5. Discuss and set 2019 Work Plan: John opened this agenda item with proposal that the committee elect officers since current officers had been in office for two+ years. Members asked John and Sandy if they were willing to continue to serve as chair and vice chair. Both said “yes.” Leslie moved and Mike seconded that John and Sandy be re-elected as chair and vice chair, respectively. During discussion John suggested that Sandy continue, informally, as committee clerk. Motion passed 6-0- 0. Members proposed the following projects/tasks for inclusion in the 2019 Committee Work Plan: ● Expand SoBu’s LDRs for ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) (some members did not support) ● Evaluate committee’s work products/activities and assess what worked and what didn’t ● Follow Inclusionary Zoning for Transit Overlay District through to adoption ● Engage in Public Will-Building re affordable housing ● Educate City Council and Planning Commission re overall positive impacts of have more housing with prices within reach of low and moderate income households ● Follow/provide input into efforts of TDR and Open Space Committees and PC’s work on new PUD LDRs ● Examine land in City and identify areas suitable for high density housing ● Develop funding source for City to purchase land suitable for high density housing John offered to draft a 2019 Committee Work Plan using these ideas and committee members’ input. Members accepted this offer. 6. Set dates for future meetings: Thursday, 1/24/19 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, 2/5/19 10:00 a.m. Thursday, 2/14/19 10:00 a.m. CHANGED TO 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, 3/5/19 10:00 a.m. Monday, 3/18/19 10:00 a.m. Additional discussion: Mike asked for clarification of Tom’s role on TDR committee. Does Tom represent the committee’s position or his personal position? Consensus is that Tom represents the committee’s position. In light of having about five minutes time before scheduled adjournment, Tom and Sandy asked that members review the “Bike rack”, which members agreed with following results: ● NEW – 1/8/19 Emails to K. Dorn and D. Young to be completed by 1/24/19 ● DELETE as having essentially been done. Tom will prepare a “Summary” of the proposed changes (from May 29, 2018, meeting minutes) ● Keep and address at 1/24/19 committee meeting. work on Committee’s page on the City’s website ● Combine with item immediately above. (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): ● Done – There is no such mechanism. 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. ● Done – There is no opportunity there. Mike will seek Yves Bradley’s input regarding development of more housing along Shelburne Road corridor. Members agreed that all bike rack tasks should include date of assignment and date for task completion. 7. Adjourn: At 12:05 p.m. Leslie moved and Mike seconded motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion passed 6-0-0.