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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Affordable Housing Committee - 02/28/2022South Burlington Affordable Housing Committee Room #301 at 180 Market St South Burlington, VT 05403 AGENDA Participation Options In Person: Room #301 – 3rd Floor – 180 Market St Assistive Listening Service Devices Available upon request – Reach out to staff or committee members before meeting begins Electronically: https://www.gotomeet.me/SouthBurlingtonVT/affordable-housing- committee02-28-2022 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (571) 317- 3122 Access Code: 364-847-301 FY23 AHC Policy Priorities and Strategies •Explore funding mechanisms to increase funding to Affordable Housing Trust Fund and make recommendations to Council •Work with staff to review options for buying privately owned or developing existing city-owned land to develop additional perpetually affordable housing •Make recommendations to Council on how best to use ARPA funding for housing •Identify regulatory barriers and added costs of developing multi-unit buildings and propose ways for SB to address them. Could include: waiver or reduction of city impact and permit fees for perpetually affordable developments •Articulate connections between dense housing development and climate change solutions •Review zoning districts city-wide to identify additional locations for residential/mixed- use zoning including conducting an inventory of vacant space. •Identify regulatory barriers and added costs of redeveloping areas of SB and propose ways to address them •Propose an Impact Assessment Checklist for Council consideration Monday, February 28, 2022 10:30 AM 1.Agenda, Approve minutes from February 14,2022 AHC meetings, public comment, announcements (10:30 – 10:45 AM) 2.City Manager update (10:45 – 11:00 AM) 3.Anti racism bill (Minelle) (11:00 – 11:15 AM) 4.Rental Feedback (Ariel) (11:15 – 11:30 AM) 5.Planning Commission Update (11:30 – 12:00 PM) 6.CC discussion on ARPA funding (12:00 – 12:30 PM) 7.Adjourn (12:30 PM) February 14, 2022, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – DRAFT Page 1 Prepared on February 24, 2022 Next meeting date/time: Monday, February 28, 2022, 10:30 p.m. City Hall and online AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE February 14, 2022, 10:30 a.m., meeting held online and at City Hall Members attending: Janet Bellavance, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, Ariel Jensen-Vargas, Darrilyn Peters, Minelle Sarfo-Ado (arr. 11:15), John Simson, and Chris Trombly; member absent: Patrick O’Brien; staff present: Jessie Baker, City Manager; Kelsey Peterson, City Planner; PC liaison, Monica Ostby; public: Linda Bailey and Stephen Klein, South Burlington residents AGENDA 1.Call to order, agenda review, (added) approval of minutes from 1//24 AHC meeting, announcements, publiccomment2.Update from Minelle Sarfo-Adu on House Education Bill to promote anti-racism curriculum in Vermontschools3.City manager update4.How ARPA dollars are being used by other communities5.Consider and possibly take action on motion citing apparent majority Councilor support for reversing the 1.8-unit density maximum for SEQ lot < 4 acres and requesting that the Council chair put on the 2/22 mtg agenda an item that would have the Council consider and possibly take action on a request to the Planning Commission toinclude the 1.8-unit rule change along with its expedited work on the General (or generic) PUD6.Planning Commission Update from Janet and Monica (rent vs own, definition of housing affordability, Form-Based code, General PUD, LDR revisions process)7.Rental Feedback (Ariel Jensen-Vargas)8.Adjourn 1, Call to order, agenda review, (added) approval of minutes (1/24/22) announcements, public comment, Call to order: Chris called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. Agenda review: Jessie noted that approval of minutes would need to be added to agenda as they were not available to her when she posted the agenda. Darrilyn moved and Vince seconded motion to add this item to the agenda. Motion approved: 8-0-0 (Minelle had not arrived). Approval of minutes: Sandy moved and Vince seconded motion to approve the minutes for the 1/24//22 meeting with modifications requested by Leslie (which Sandy read to group). Motion approved: 8-0-0 (Minelle had not arrived). Announcements: Vince reminded folks that the School Board and City Council forum hosted by members of the SBHS debate team assisted by Monica and himself would take place on 2/16/22, 6:00-7:00 for School Board and 7:30-9:30 for City Council; can be attended in person or online. Public Comments: Linda introduced herself as a candidate for the three-year seat on the City Council and indicated she was attending meeting to listen and learn. No input from Stephen Klein. 2.Update from Minelle Sarfo-Adu on House Education Bill to promote anti-racism curriculum in Vermont schools:delayed until future meeting as Minelle’s “partner” in doing presentation did not attend. 3.City manager’s update: The 2/22/22 City Council (CC) meeting will include a public hearing on proposal forCity to apply for $1 million in CDBG funds that, if received, would be partial funding for affordable housing to be built by Summit Properties, Inc.; this housing would be part of O’Brien Farms development. At same CC meeting,deputy city manager Andrew Bolduc will present report on values and process options for receiving proposals onhow to use the City’s $3.8 million ARPA funds. This report and discussion will not focus on specific proposals on where to invest these ARPA funds. Jessie also reported that there is much focus and negotiation in thelegislature on S.210, the Rental Registry bill. Leslie asked how can AHC help CC in deciding how to use ARPAfunds? Jessie suggested that CC discussion of ARPA funds at 2/22 meeting should provide guidance on this subject. February 14, 2022, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – DRAFT Page 2 4. How ARPA dollars are being used by other communities: Leslie reported that many municipalities were conducting community meetings to receive resident input toward making this decision. Barre is doing a project that will support construction of housing for the Missing Middle. Burlington’s first allocation is focused on housing and services for homeless individuals. They are also doing a survey. Other ways for using ARPA funds that have been put forth include a revolving loan fund, infrastructure that would support housing development (e.g. wastewater service access), land bank, and “gap” funding to finance gap between cost of building housing and what middle income households can afford to pay. Discussion then focused on legislative activity relating to how to invest that $200 million in ARPA funds that the State has available. Sandy had information on the proposed Missing Middle Income Home Ownership Development Program that she shared with committee. See link below for specifics. Leslie mentioned that the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs would be having a hearing on this proposal on 2/16/22. Ariel suggested that this program should emphasize use of non-new materials, collaboration with Green Mountain Habitat, and provision of funds to homeowners to add ADUs or similar additions to their housing. Sandy indicated that the latter seems unlikely because the focus is on providing opportunities for first-time homeownership. Leslie indicated that developers have participated in the design of this proposal. John urged committee to lobby in support of passage of bill containing this proposal. Following discussion, John moved and Sandy seconded motion to delegate to Leslie responsibility to prepare a message from AHC to Senator Sirotkin, chair of Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, indicating committee’s support for the Missing Middle Income Home Ownership Development Program, and that this message be shared with the other members of South Burlington’s delegation in the legislature (Chittenden, Pugh, Townsend, LaLonde, and Killacky) with the request that they support this legislation and monitor its progress in the State House. Monica suggested that this message be sent to TOP as well. Motion approved: 7-1 (Ariel)-1 (Minelle). Link to PDF containing message Chris sent to Senator Sirotkin on 2/15/22 is provided below. Jessie shared with committee members link to NCL (National Council of Cities) website indicating how municipalities nationwide are using ARPA funds. Link provided below. Darrilyn volunteered to connect with Representative Killacky on this subject. Members encouraged her to do so. https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/WorkGroups/Senate%20Economic%20Development/Affordable%20Housing/General%20Housing%20Topics/W~Maura%20Collins~Homeownership%20Development%20Proposal~2-4-2022.pdf SB Housing Committee letter abo COVID-19: Local Action Tracker - National League of Cities (nlc.org) 5. Consider and possibly take action on motion citing apparent majority Councilor support for reversing the 1.8-unit density maximum for SEQ lot < 4 acres and requesting that the Council chair put on the 2/22 mtg agenda an item that would have the Council consider and possibly take action on a request to the Planning Commission to include the 1.8-unit rule change along with its expedited work on the General (or generic) PUD: Sandy shared with committee that she had inquired of CC Chair Riehle as to whether she would be receptive to this motion and response was no; as a result, Sandy proposed that committee take no action of this proposed motion. Riehle indicated no support for giving review of this new policy any priority among the other new policies that Councilors had indicated they would like the PC to review. She mentioned possible joint CC/Planning Commission meeting to establish priorities among the new policies put forward for possible review. Varying views expressed: another example of CC not giving priority to housing crisis and how new rules affect it (not a unanimous view); should not focus on this but instead focus on infill and redevelopment PUD, need to go on record demonstrating our support for having this new regulations reviewed. Monica stated her view that the PC had not done due diligence with respect to its consideration of whether this change in regulation should be approved for inclusion in IZ rules package and that to revisit it now would not get in the way of prompt development of new regulations for the General PUD. Monica cited how duplex at 1 Dubois Drive could not be built under new regulations and her intent to continue to advocate for revisiting this new rule. Actions: Chris will follow up with Jessica (PC chair) regarding AHC’s desire to have this rule revisited. Straw poll of committee members present regarding support for having February 14, 2022, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – DRAFT Page 3 this new regulation reviewed (with no proposal regarding timing for review); question: Do we believe it should be reviewed? Poll results: 9-0-0. 6. Planning Commission Update from Janet and Monica (rent vs own, definition of housing affordability, Form-Based code, General PUD, LDR revisions process): Janet summarized content of two most recent Planning Commission meetings; for specifics, read this report: Summary Reprot from PC 1_14_22 .pdf. Additional discussion focused on Monica’s proposal that PC ask AHC to provide advice/recommendation regarding whether or not and, if yes, how PC might develop regulations that would promote development of homeownership opportunities in preference to rental housing opportunities. Monica also indicated that she has asked for commitment from PC that if AHC or any other committee submits recommendations, that these recommendations will get time on a PC meeting agenda and appropriate consideration. Members thanked Monica for having made this request. Members expressed willingness to explore homeownership vs. rental subject should the PC make this request. Based on input provided by various committee members and Jessie, it is clear that this is a complicated subject that needs to be dealt with carefully and fully. On what basis would City adopt a policy or goal of promoting homeownership over rental opportunities? Perhaps, first step is to have city’s legal staff weigh in on to what degree city’s land development regulations (LDRs) may be used to require or provide incentives for developers to provide homeownership opportunities over rental housing opportunities. May LDRs be used to interfere with the market in this manner? Another avenue that might be compatible with such a goal, if endorsed, would be use of ARPA funds. Monica shared that another future focus of PC work would be how TDRs might be used outside the Southeast Quadrant. All topics proposed for discussion under this agenda item were not discussed due to lack of time. 7. Rental Feedback (Ariel Jensen-Vargas): ran out of time; delayed until future meeting 8. Adjourn: At 12:41 p.m. John moved and Vince seconded motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved: 9-0-0.