HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 05/08/2017
South Burlington Affordable Housing Committee
MINUTES
May 8, 2017
Members Attending: John Simson, Mike Simoneau, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Sandy Dooley and Tom
Bailey
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Andrew Bolduc, South Burlington City Attorney; Larry Kupferman, South Burlington
Housing Trust Fund; Susan Deacon
Minutes: Leslie Black-Plumeau
Welcome
The meeting was called to order at 4:07 PM by John Simson, Chair.
Evacuation procedures
Andrew reviewed building evaluation procedures for the committee (i.e. exit through the main entrance
door).
Agenda review
Leslie made a motion that we amend the agenda to include reviewing the minutes for the April 18,
2017. Tom moved and Leslie seconded approval of the minutes of the April 18, 2017 meeting with
one minor correction. The motion passed unanimously, except for Sandy who abstained.
Comments and questions from public
Susan Deacon explained that she was interested in South Burlington’s housing situation and wanted
to listen to the meeting discussion.
Larry gave the committee an update on activity of the South Burlington Housing Trust Fund. He
explained that at Cathedral Square Corporation’s request, the trust fund committee agreed to provide
an additional $25,000 for the forthcoming City Center Senior apartment building.
Housing preservation amendment
The committee decided to clarify the results of its discussions about exempting certain mixed use
zoning districts from the proposed preservation amendment. John made a motion that the:
· Swift St and Industrial open space (on Hinesburg Rd) districts be exempt from the provision;
· Village Commercial district (Dorset St) not be exempt from the provision due to its largely
residential nature;
· Lime Kiln district be exempt as its current non-conforming use already provides; and
· South Burlington Planning Commission revise the zoning map for 3 areas (Airport Rd, Williston
Rd-Shunpike, and Old Farm Rd). John met with Paul Connor to discuss suggested placement
of zoning district boundaries.
The committee then discussed a new section C(6)(“Exemptions”) of the proposed amendment that
was drafted by Andrew at the request of John. This section pertains to homes near the airport that are
currently covered by contracts that are not yet closed between the airport and FAA. After Andrew
reviewed the number of and location of homes removed and not yet removed under each of the 5
open contracts, a suggestion was made to include in the proposed amendment a list of the actual
addresses of homes not yet removed but subject to these contracts that would be exempt from the
preservation requirements. Mike seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
John made a motion that the housing preservation amendment as currently drafted be proposed by
the committee to the Planning Commission with the following revisions:
1. Add to the end of Section C(6), a sentence that reads “The addresses of the xx homes not yet
removed as of May 8, 2017, but covered by these contracts and therefore exempt from this
housing preservation amendment are listed in Appendix XX.”
2. Add as the very first sentence in Section A (“Purpose”), “The intent is to achieve one or more of
these goals:”
3. Revise the first sentence of Section F(4) to read “Each rental replacement unit(s) must be
maintained as a leased “Affordable Housing” unit, as that term is defined in Article 2 of these
Regulations to prospective occupants who are income eligible at the time they first lease the
unit, for a period of not less than…”
4. Add a Section F(5) that reads “Each owner occupied replacement dwelling unit(s) must be sold
as an “Affordable Housing” unit, as that term is defined in Article 2 of these Regulations to
prospective purchaser/occupants who are income eligible at the time they purchase the unit.
5. Correct the spelling of “located” in Section F (2)
Sandy seconded the motion. All voted in favor with the exception of Tom who voted “no.” When the
committee asked Tom about his concerns, he agreed to put his thoughts in writing and share with the
committee after the meeting.
In a matter related to the housing preservation amendment,
Sandy made a motion that the committee revise its proposed changes to the definition of affordable
housing in Article 2 so that footnote 1 retain the reference to 3 levels of income (80%, 100% and
120%). Leslie seconded. All members were in favor.
Next meeting
The committee agreed to shift the date of its next meeting to Wednesday, May 24 at 4 PM at City Hall.
Adjournment
Mike moved to adjourn and Leslie seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.