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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 12/01/2020December 1, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 1 Approved on December 15, 2020 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE December 1, 2020, 2020, 10:30 a.m., meeting held online Members attending (online): Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, Patrick O’Brien, Mike Simoneau, John Simson, and Chris Trombly. Member absent: Leslie Black-Plumeau Others: Monica Ostby, PC liaison; Kevin Dorn, City Manager; Evan Langfeldt & Andrew Gill, Obrien Brothers (arrived about 11:30 a.m.) AGENDA 1. Call to order, agenda review, public comment, approval of minutes (11/17/20) 2. Post-CCRPC Virtual Housing Convention Discussion 3. Draft Preamble 4. Presentation from O’Brien Brothers update on Kennedy/Old Farm Road project (25m presentation and 20m Q&A) 5. Contributing to The Other Paper Column and City Newsletter 6. Subcommittee updates (SEQ housing, Industrial Space, Book Discussion Group) 7. Adjourn 1, Call to order, agenda review, public comment, approval of Minutes (11/17/20): Chris called the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m. There were no guests at beginning of meeting. Committee members were reminded that City Attorney will present on proposed amendment to Sewer Ordinance at 12/7/20 CC meeting. Agenda changed to discuss Book Discussion Group first to avoid not having time at end of meeting for this subject. 1a. Book Discussion Group: John reported having connected with library staff. They are enthusiastic about this proposal and have obtained eight copies of book on loan from Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. Books will be available to SoBu Library for six weeks beginning January 1. Sandy will call Jessica Hyman to ask her to lead this discussion group. John will follow up with Kevin re putting information in the City’s newsletter. 1. b. Review and approval of minutes (11/17/20): John moved and Vince seconded motion to approve second draft of 11//17/20 meeting minutes. Note: Sandy had sent committee members second draft of minutes with minor modifications on Page 2, item 4, second paragraph requested by attendees of the meeting. Motion approved: 6-0-1 (Patrick abstained.) 2. Post-CCRPC Virtual Housing Convention Discussion: Lots of helpful information shared at this meeting. Compelling need for more housing; 2,090 additional households anticipated in Chittenden County by 2025. Sandy pointed out that we need more housing units than new households so that we can increase the housing vacancy rate as current very low rate drives up housing prices. Vince identified several data points that support our desire to change committee name. Frequent refrain: the biggest obstacle to development of more housing is financing. We need more money available to support housing construction. A new development in South Burlington, named Dover Place, was mentioned. Question: where is it? No one at meeting is sure. Based on description, Kevin believes it is new 43-unit housing development Snyder-Braverman has proposed to be built on Garden Street north of CHT’s Garden Apartments. Monica mentioned that owners of University Mall want to sell it, but want to modify it first to enhance its value. Could include housing. Talk of tearing down parking garage (not good for City). Complicated as Sears owns its two buildings but not the land. May explore this situation at a future meeting. 3. Draft Preamble: Sandy shared that “preamble” as title should be dropped as preambles are introductory statements for larger documents, which is not what she intends for this piece. She noted that she had modified the “goals” section based on input from Vince and that Vince had further ideas for how piece might be used. December 1, 2020, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 2 Vince stated that first two paragraphs would be good opening statements for committee’s name change request. Bullet points from “scientific” sources that support the name change would be added. The goals should be incorporated into the committee’s Work Plan. Mike asked what is meant by the word “holistic” in this statement. Is meaning limited to housing or to people’s full experience of life that is affected by having or not having affordable housing? He mentioned health and mental health as part of holistic. Sandy intended its use to be broad—beyond housing. Patrick pointed out that goals, 2, 3, 5 start with “adoption”, which is beyond the authority of the committee. In addition, we may do more “promoting” of goals 1, 4, 6, and 7 than actual “implementation.” And, the committee would engage in the activities cited in goal 8 only in concert with other entities. Patrick’s view on committee name change: “the sooner, the better.” Follow-up: (1) Vince and Sandy will use first two paragraphs to prepare a statement in support of committee request to City Council to change name of committee to South Burlington Housing Committee. Will have product for committee to review in January. (2) The subgroup, Patrick, Sandy, and Vince, working with Paul Conner will use “Goal” (5) as guidance for their work with Paul, plus advocacy for having inclusionary zoning included the PUDs that use housing types instead of density as the measure of intensity of land use. Sandy will ask Paul to schedule meeting. (3) The other seven “Goals” should be considered for incorporation into the Committee’s FY21 Work Plan, with proviso that terms “adoption” and “implementation” should be preceded by “promotion of” to describe committee’s work accurately. 4. Presentation from O’Brien Brothers update on Kennedy/Old Farm Road project: Note: Patrick O’Brien recused himself from any participation in this presentation/discussion. Use link below to see Obrien Brothers’ PowerPoint presentation. Size of “Eastview” component of O’Brien Bros. Hillside Master Plan development is 100 acres. Anticipate that it will Include 120-140 homeownership units in triplexes, which will include 8 or 9 inclusionary units; all units will have three or four bedrooms; 25 acres of open space; 1 acre dog park, workout loop; and swimming pool (open to residents of all units). Affordable Housing Committee Presentation 12 1 20.pdf Mike asked if having the inclusionary units will generate a deficit or drag, financially, on the project. Response was that they anticipate the effect will be a “wash or loss.” Andrew added that, due to the lot coverage limits in R1 zoning districts, they are unable to reach even the regular density allowed, let alone adding the offset units. They would like to see the limit on lot coverage for R1 zones increased (now 25 percent + small addition for inclusionary units). Limit in R4 zoning districts is 40 percent. They would not request 40 percent but something between 25 and 40 percent. John stated view that the distribution “meets our vision.” Monica asked if committee views distribution consistent with Inclusionary regulations. Sandy stated her view that it does. Chris asked Evan and Andrew, “what are lessons learned?” Response: “Achieving offsets is sometimes impossible.” Possible solution: sharing offset units elsewhere in development—e.g. allow housing in Industrial/Commercial Zone. Committee has been exploring this. Monica: Planning Commission likely to develop regulations for Campus PUD, which would likely allow this. Preliminary plat application anticipated before DRB in mid-January. Evan and Andrew would like committee to take positon in support of how inclusionary requirements are proposed to be met in development. Committee will address this question at next meeting. 5. Contributing to The Other Paper Column and City Newsletter: deferred to future meeting 6. Subcommittee updates (SEQ housing, Industrial Space, Book Discussion Group [see 1a. above for Book Discussion Group]): with exception of Book Discussion Group, deferred to future meeting 7. Adjourn: Prior to adjournment, committee scheduled next two meetings for 12/15/20 and 1/5/21, both at 10:30 a.m. At 12:35 p.m., Vince moved and John seconded motion to adjourn. Motion passed 6-0-0.