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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 07/10/2017Approved by Committee on July 25, 2017 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE July 10, 2017, 4:00 PM, City Hall Members attending: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Sandy Dooley, Michael Simoneau, John Simson (Chair) Members absent: Tom Bailey Others Present: Monica Ostby, liaison from SoBu Planning Commission, Kevin Dorn (4:30), City Manager Minutes by Sandy Dooley AGENDA 1. Call to order 2. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items 3. Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda 4. Review and approval of minutes from the June 20, 2017, Committee meeting. 5. Discuss implications of Larkin project and how we can impact DRB decisions in the future 6. Discuss clarifications of the preservation amendment requested by Paul Connor 7. Continue to develop our recommendations for the overlay districts for "priority" housing 8. Other business 9. Adjourn 1. Call to Order: John called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and welcomed Monica Ostby, liaison from Planning Commission to the meeting. 2. Agenda review: John sent agenda to Kevin Dorn but it did not get published. Committee agreed to John’s proposed agenda from email dated July 6, 2017. 3. Comments, etc.: There were no comments from the public. 4. Review and approval of draft minutes of June 20, 2017, committee meeting: Mike moved and Leslie seconded approval of the minutes with modifications and additions proposed by Sandy, which are quoted below. Motion approved unanimously. a. Deletion of “purported” from page one, paragraph two, line two, and change “a” to “an” in paragraph two, end of line one. b. Changes to June 6, 2017, meeting minutes added to page one of June 20, 2017 minutes: (1) On page 3, the first line below the web link now reads: “Review of demographics in Chittenden County (time period, approximately 2010 to 2015/6):” (2) On page 3, the 10th bullet now reads: “● VHFA provides rent, purchase price, and income tables related to affordability on the Vermont Housing Data website.” (3) On page 3, the 12th bullet now reads: “● Resources: Burlington’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) website, Grounded Solutions Network, Vermont Housing Data website, “Toolbox” ” (4) On page 4, the first bullet now reads: “● CHT has analyzed what a housing bond could do for the economy. The analysis shows how a $70 million bond for affordable housing could bring $258 million to Vermont. State also developed a similar analysis for a state-wide bond.” c. On page 1, paragraph six, line one, delete “Replacement”; and insert “Preservation” after “Housing”; and in line three, insert this sentence, “Committee members Sandy Dooley and Mike Simoneau also attended. 5. Discuss implications of Larkin project and how we can impact DRB decisions in the future The “Larkin project” is the development approved recently by the DRB that involves the demolition of “Larkin Terrace” (located on west side of Shelburne Road in front of Palace 9 cinema), permitted as an extended stay hotel though likely operating as permanent housing and having affordable rents, and its replacement with an apartment or condominium complex that is unlikely to have affordable rents/prices. The focus was: First, might the committee, absent any regulatory authority, have played some role early in the process including before the developer submitted its application for Sketch Plan review, such that the developer would have decided to include some perpetually affordable units in the development. Second, is there some way that the committee may play a role in the earliest stages of future developments such that the developer will decide to include some perpetually affordable units in his/her development The discussion was wide-ranging, including consideration of the pros and cons of various strategies. Action: Sandy moved that the committee request that the City Council adopt a policy under which City staff would, upon their initial discussion with any person indicating interest in developing residential housing in South Burlington, provide this person with a letter from the City Council stating the City’s need for more affordable housing and the Council’s desire that the person or his/her representatives meet with the City’s Affordable Housing Committee (on a voluntary basis) before the development’s proposed plan has been defined. The Committee would provide a sample letter to the City Council that it might use for this purpose. Leslie seconded the motion. Following discussion, the motion passed by a vote of 3 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention. Mike abstained as he is vice- chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, which might want similar consideration relative to its goals and objectives. Leslie and Sandy volunteered to collaborate on drafting the sample letter. Sandy will contact Helen Riehle to make her aware of this committee action. The sample letter will be shared with committee members and Monica before it is forwarded to the City Council. John, committee chair, will present the Committee’s motion/request and sample letter to City Council after letter has been reviewed and is in final form. Part of the discussion of Larkin Terrace focused on its being permitted as an extended stay hotel. As a result, it is not a Residential Use under the City’s Land Development Regulations. The fact that Congregate Housing (“congregate care facility” under City’s Land Development Regulations) is also not permitted as a Residential Use was also mentioned. The Housing Preservation LDR that the committee drafted applies only to structures permitted as a Residential Use. This means that had the Housing Preservation LDR been adopted, it would not have applied to Larkin Terrace. This is also the case with respect to the City’s Inclusionary Zoning LDRs. The Inclusionary Zoning LDRs apply only to structures permitted as a Residential Use. Monica offered to bring these situations to the attention of the Planning Commission. The committee accepted Monica’s offer to include this information in her report at the July 11th Planning Commission meeting. Sandy agreed to assist Monica with any informational needs she might identify in preparing for the Planning Commission meeting. 6. Discuss clarifications of the preservation amendment requested by Paul Connor Paul Conner had emailed John with the Planning Commission’s (PC) comments on the draft Housing Preservation LDRs and John had replied. Summary is as follows: (a) Effective date: PC proposed that LDRs become effective date that would be result of normal public notice, public hearing, and adoption process instead of January 1, 2018. John agreed with this as houses in most recent airport buyout offer have been exempted. (b) “bona fide qualified non-profit organization”: PC suggested that this reference to what entity might administer this LDR might be more specifically defined. John was fine with how it is currently worded. Committee suggested that PC might insert “such as Champlain Housing Trust or Cathedral Square.” (c) Replacement unit affordability requirements – PC uncomfortable with difference between duration of affordability requirement for home ownership and rental unit replacement units. For home ownership, requirement applies to initial sale only and for rental unit, requirement is perpetual. Concern is about flipping of owned home. John is fine with this policy as drafted. Committee discussed that developers are very unlikely to choose the “Replacement unit” method of compliance in light of fact that $60,000 contribution to Housing Trust would be less expensive and less onerous. Committee also assured Monica that marker value of ownership replacement unit is likely to be virtually the same as the affordable price paid by the qualifying household. As a result, there is no incentive to “flip.” All committee members want policy to remain as drafted. 7. Continue to develop our recommendations for the overlay districts for "priority" housing At next meeting, committee will explore with Paul Conner his views on the ideas/proposals committee has discussed with respect to creating “overlay districts” to incentivize the development of affordable housing. Leslie raised subject of drafting policy that makes inclusionary zoning citywide. Sandy stated that committee will likely need to decide which to work on first as we cannot work on both of these policies at same time. 8. Other business – subjects raised ● Desire for city to purchase land for “Land Bank” for affordable housing. ● Sandy indicated that CHT’s multi-family affordable housing development for City Center may get moved up to this year due to enactment of $35 million housing bond and availability of funding earlier than previously anticipated. Number of units may increase from 40 to 60 or, perhaps, even 80. Committee offered to send letter of support for this development whenever it is applying for funding. Sandy will communicate this message to Michael Monte of CHT. ● Monica raised goal of not having all affordable housing for non-seniors be high-rise apartment buildings; she sees too much focus on high density. Committee appreciates this concern but cited cost as barrier to building affordable “traditional” family housing units. We need to find ways to induce seniors living in affordable “starter homes” to sell them and move to smaller units (downsize). How can we find a way to build, at affordable cost, duplexes, triplexes, quaplexes whose appearance and outdoor ambience have feel similar to single-family dwellings? ● The committee discussed UVM’s recent RFP for development proposals for 44 acres of land (two parcels) on west side of Spear Street. Committee also discussed the O’Brien development. ● Sandy raised subject of Habitat building houses (single-family and duplexes) on City-owned land in Chamberlin neighborhood (on south side of ravine that has Queensbury development on north side). Kevin was receptive to revisiting this proposal. Land is within airport’s 65 DNL boundary but that should not be an insurmountable barrier. ● Next meeting: July 25, 4:00 p.m. Director of Planning Paul Conner is expected to attend. 9. Adjourn – Mike moved and Leslie seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Committee approved motion unanimously at 6:12 p.m.