Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 10/13/2020October 13, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 1 Approved on October 26, 2020 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE October 13, 2020, 10:00 a.m., meeting held online Members attending (online): Leslie Black-Plumeau, Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, Mike Simoneau, Patrick O’Brien. John Simson, and Chris Trombly Others: Monica Ostby, PC liaison (joined at 9:30); Kevin Dorn, City Manager Guests: Tom Bailey, SoBu resident and former committee member; Alan & Carol Long, SoBu property owners AGENDA 1. Call to order, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of minutes of September 29, 2020 3. Election of Committee officers 4. Chair’s Comments 5. Consider taking a position on Land Trust sewer initiative 6. Update on the plan of participation and input to the Planning Commission re Article 12, PUD regs and other initiatives 7. Discussion of potential committee input to updates to LDRs to comply with new State legislation re ADUs 8. Discussion of progress on subcommittee study of sites for zoning changes to enable more housing 9. Reports and updates by committee members 10. Adjourn 1, Call to order, agenda review, comments from guests: John called meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. and welcomed guests. John shared that Paul Conner had requested that committee delay discussion of ADUs until he had reviewed legislation and gotten back to John. In response John proposed that agenda item 7 be deferred to a subsequent meeting. Committee members concurred. No comments from guests. 2. Review and approval of minutes of September 29, 2020: Vince moved and Patrick seconded motion to approve 09/29/20 meeting minutes as drafted. Motion approved: 7-0-0 3. Election of Committee officers: Mike nominated Chris (Trombly) to office of Chair of committee. Sandy seconded motion. Following brief discussion in which Chris accepted nomination, he was elected as chair by vote of 7-0-0. Chris then assumed chair role for meeting. Mike then nominated Sandy to office of Vice Chair of committee. Leslie seconded motion. Sandy accepted nomination and was elected by vote of 7-0-0. Following informal discussion Sandy agreed to continue serving as Secretary. 4. Chair’s Comments: As a transition Chris asked John to share the comments he planned to make when he prepared the meeting’s agenda. John shared that he has enjoyed his service as committee chair and appreciates the support received from committee members and their contributions to the committee’s work. He is pleased that Chris is willing to be step into role of chair. He added that he plans to apply for reappointment to the committee when his current term expires in 2021. He encouraged Chris to establish relationships with City Councilors, the members of the Planning Commission, the City Manager, and Director of Planning & Zoning. He is confident that Chris will be a strong advocate for more housing in SoBu, including more affordable housing. 5. Consider taking a position on Land Trust sewer initiative: Kevin indicated that the City Council had asked him to have a City Attorney (Amanda Lafferty) review the SoBu Land Trust’s proposed ordinance. No further action has been taken. Members’ discussion included a review of the draft statement that Sandy prepared and shared with committee members; idea to present a position statement at upcoming City Council meeting during opportunity for public to comment on subjects not on the agenda, concern that ordinance as written would October 13, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 2 thwart development in the SEQ; concurrence with Sandy’s draft but desire to have it amended to include stronger wording in opposition to the proposed ordinance; information that other local municipalities have used similar ordinances to manage growth, increase fees, and allocate access to sewer and wastewater services to specific uses; and addition of language that would state how proposed ordinance would affect housing market in SoBu. Leslie drafted and proposed language to add to statement that states committee’s opposition to the proposed ordinance citing its adverse impact on housing market in SoBu. Members supported adding this language to the draft statement. Sandy suggested that statement be modified to reflect that City Attorney has been asked to review and provide input to City Council on the SoBu Land Trust’s proposed sewer ordinance. Members agreed. MOTION: Sandy moved and Vince seconded that the committee delegate to Chris and Leslie responsibility for modifying statement Sandy drafted consistent with Leslie’s additional language and Sandy’s suggested modification and that Chris communicate the revised statement to the City Council at its next meeting. Motion passed: 7-0-0. 6. Update on the plan of participation and input to the Planning Commission (PC) re Article 12, PUD regs and other initiatives: Discussion included questions about maps, need to look at Habitat blocks in relation to housing group’s report on parcels that are ideal for housing development, actions that Planning Commission will be taking at that evening’s meeting regarding adding to and (in a few instances) subtracting land from Natural Resource Protection districts based on the Arrowwood report, question raised: how would we identify land that is currently in Natural Resource Protection districts that should be removed from such districts as it no longer constitutes a natural resource needing protection, Monica’s pledge to find examples of such areas, need to develop criteria for land whose availability for development should be maintained, and the criteria in the housing group’s report may be best model for such criteria. Monica and Leslie provided link to maps that PC will review that evening. Discussion of open space that is part of South Point development. Chris proposed that committee take actions that promote message to PC that at the same time that they assess City lands for purpose of natural resource protection they should assess lands for purpose of protection for housing development. More discussion of maps. Question: are adjacent municipalities being asked to weigh in vis-à-vis the PC’s work in this area. Monica: there is outreach. Several committee members indicated that they would attend the Planning Commission meeting that evening. 7. Discussion of potential committee input to updates to LDRs to comply with new State legislation re ADUs: deferred to subsequent meeting in response to request by Paul Conner 8. Discussion of progress on subcommittee study of sites for zoning changes to enable more housing: Mike emailed seven or eight owners of property in I/OS or Mixed I/C districts regarding receptiveness to changing zoning rules to allow housing development in these districts. The three that have replied were positive as long as this is an option. Committee asked for advice from Monica re how to approach PC regarding this possible change. Mention of underutilized properties in various locations in the City. Need to consider alternative approaches to current development patterns (e.g. missing middle housing types instead for detached single family housing). We need to revisit the big zoning map of City. Leslie proposed that the subgroup (Chris, Leslie, and Mike with assistance, as needed, from Monica) that volunteered to look into this and make recommendations be put on agenda for next meeting. 9. Reports and updates by committee members: Chris asked for purpose of this agenda item. John explained that it was for committee members to report on new housing-related information or activities that they became aware of or were involved in. Due to lack of time there was no further discussion 10. Adjourn: Prior to adjournment, committee decided to meet again on Monday, October 26, 10:00 a.m. Assumption is that meeting with be online. At approximately 12:00 Noon, Leslie moved and Sandy seconded motion to adjourn. Motion passed 7-0-0.