HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 04/03/2018Approved on April 10, 2018
NOTE: Date/time/place of next meeting: April 10, 2018, 10:00 a.m., place to be determined
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE
April 3, 2018, 9:00 AM, SoBu Police Department, Community Room
Members attending: Tom Bailey, Leslie Black-Plumeau (left at 10:50 a.m.), Sandy Dooley, Todd
Rawlings, Michael Simoneau, and John Simson (Chair); Member absent: Larry Michaels; PC liaison
absent: Monica Ostby
Others attending: Nick Andrews, resident of South Village
Minutes by Sandy Dooley
AGENDA
1. Emergency exit, agenda review, public comments
2. Review March 6, 2018, and March 20, 2018 minutes for adoption
3. Consider Sandy Dooley’s draft including rewrite of Sections 18.01 and 18.02 (density bonus)
4. Discuss Committee input to PUD regulations and Special Urban District specifics to begin
preparation
for meeting with PUD Consultant, Sharon Murray, May 1
5. Other
6. Adjourn
1. Emergency exit, agenda review, public comments: John called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.,
summarized emergency evacuation instructions, and encouraged Nick Andrews to sit at table with
Committee members. There were no comments from the public.
On a point of personal privilege, John spoke about the passing, on March 31, 2018, of City Councilor,
Pat Nowak, and noted her many contributions to the City and her support for affordable housing.
Sandy added that Pat had been especially supportive of creating and funding re South Burlington’s
Housing Trust Fund.
John also mentioned the CCRPC-convened April 30th meeting of elected officials and affordable
housing committee members from Chittenden County municipalities. It is hoped that this group
evolves to one that brings together folks working directly on increasing the availability of affordable
housing in local municipalities.
John informed members that the Planning Commission had tasked Monica with working with our
committee on Cottage Housing. Monica asked Sandy to team with her. They are working on this
subject.
2. Review March 6, 2018, and March 20, 2018, minutes for adoption: Leslie moved and Tom
seconded that the second draft of the March 6, 2018, meeting minutes be approved. Vote was 5-0-1
with Todd abstaining. Sandy moved and Todd seconded that the second draft of the March 20, 2018,
meeting minutes be approved. Vote was 5-0-1 with Tom abstaining.
3. Consider Sandy Dooley’s draft including rewrite of Sections 18.01 and 18.02 (density bonus):
Committee members reviewed the draft and, by consensus, agreed to the following changes in the
draft.
● Regarding the Purpose subsection, Todd noted that while the title of the Section is
“Inclusionary Zoning”, all of the purposes listed focus on the production of affordable housing, and
none focuses on the goal of inclusion. What does the committee mean by “inclusion”? Committee
members identified their shared view that it is desirable for households having low, middle, and upper
incomes to live together in all of the City’s many neighborhoods. Our goal goes beyond simply
increasing the supply of affordable housing in South Burlington. Leslie quoted language in the
Comprehensive Plan’s Vision & Goals that supports the “inclusion” purpose. Committee members
agreed language about inclusion needs to be added to the Purpose subsection. Sandy agreed to
draft a new purpose that incorporates the Comprehensive Plan language for Committee members’
consideration.
● Subsection C.(2)(b)(iii) – Committee members want to allow inclusionary units to be
constructed in multi-family dwellings in an otherwise single-family housing development as long as
multi-family dwellings are a permitted use in the zoning district.
● Subsection C.(2)(c) – Subsection is to be modified to allow the DRB to approve non-
concurrent construction of inclusionary units under limited circumstances. For clarity, “Buildings
containing” is to be deleted at beginning of second sentence.
● Subsection D.(1) and D.(1)(d) – duplicate word “eligible” to be deleted and reference to VHFA
mortgage rate deleted.
● Subsection D.(2)(b) – Changes to be made to reflect knowledge that the MSA measure of area
median household income sometimes goes down.
● Subsection E.(1), E.(1)(a), and E.(1)(b) – addition of “other equally compelling circumstances”
as basis for use of Options (a) and (b), addition of who decides whether developer may use Option (a)
and (b), deleted reference to decision-making by SoBu City Council, deleted obsolete term (South
Burlington Affordable Housing Board), clarified required value of Dedication, added criteria for allowing
Off-Site Construction.
● Subsection F.(3) – new subsection naming who is responsible for decision-making on
development applications covered by Inclusionary Zoning bylaw (18.01).
● Subsection F.(4) – added “another municipal entity” as possible entity responsible for ongoing
compliance and named SoBu City Council as decision-maker regarding which entity is responsible for
ongoing compliance.
● Section 17.03 Certificates of Occupancy, B. – added item (5) under B. as follows: “Certificates
of Occupancy are required for inclusionary dwelling units constructed in accordance with Section
18.01 C. of these Regulations and the last 10% of market rate units included within a development
covered by Section 18.01 B.(1).”
Another subject raised during review of Section 18.01 is that committee needs to define “affordable
housing.” Task for next meeting: need to define role of Development Review Board vis-à-vis
developments covered by Inclusionary Zoning located in districts other than City Center Form-Based
Codes district.
4. Discuss Committee input to PUD regulations and Special Urban District specifics to begin
preparation
for meeting with PUD Consultant, Sharon Murray, May 1
Due to lack of time, the committee did not discuss input to draft new PUD regulations. John informed
committee he had discussed with Planning staff what kind of product they are looking for from
committee. Response is that they want bullet points from committee, not draft LDRs.
5. Other – John asked committee if they were willing to add a meeting to our schedule so that we will
be ready to meet with Sharon Murray on May 1. Committee agreed to add meeting on April 10, 10:00
a.m., place to be determined.
Mike raised subject of seeking ballot item of 1¢ for affordable housing. He is concerned that other
committees, representing city interests in areas he views as of lower priority than housing, will have a
1¢
ballot initiative in advance of a ballot item for housing. John mentioned the need for bond for new
library/City Hall. He sees many competing needs. Committee did not have time to discuss strategy
regarding Mike’s proposal.
5. Adjourn – Mike moved and Tom seconded motion that the meeting be adjourned. Committee
approved motion unanimously (4-0-0) at 11:00 a.m.
“Bike rack”
● work on Committee’s page on the City’s website
● (Quoted from January 23, 2018, meeting minutes) “John asked Mike to prepare a work plan for the
committee to collaborate with Coralee to enhance its effectiveness in communicating with residents
via the City’s website and via other means. The plan should include specific assignments to be
carried out by identified committee members. Mike accepted this assignment.”
Homework (not yet reported on):
● Mike will consult with an accountant regarding what incentives the City might put in place to
encourage owners of undeveloped property to sell land at a “bargain price” to private developers.
● Mike will seek Yves Bradley’s input regarding development of more housing along Shelburne Road
corridor.