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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 08/06/2018Approved on August 21, 2018 NOTE: Date/time/place of next meeting: Tuesday, August 21, 2018, 9:00 a.m., place TBD AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE August 6, 2018, 10:30 AM, City Hall, Summit Room Members attending: Sandy Dooley, Todd Rawlings, Michael Simoneau, and John Simson (Chair); Members absent: Tom Bailey, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Larry Michaels; Others: Monica Ostby, PC liaison, also absent. Minutes by Sandy Dooley AGENDA 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of July 24, 2018, minutes 3. Chair’s remarks – Meeting with Frank VonTurkovich 8/21 4. Discussion distribution of draft IZ (Inclusionary Zoning) regs to developers and follow-up 5. Discuss our position re potential special treatment of SEQ to prepare for future joint meeting with PC 6. Discuss and commit to public education effort 7. New business – set dates for September and October meetings 8. Adjourn 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests: John called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. and summarized emergency evacuation instructions. There were no comments from the public. 2. Review and approval of July 24, 2018, minutes: Todd moved and Mike seconded motion that the July 24, 2018, minutes be approved as corrected. Corrections were as follows: (1) On page 1, in last line, change “position” to “positive”. (2) Change date in Footer on all pages from July “10” to July “24.” Motion passed, vote: 4-0-0. 3. Chair’s remarks – Meeting with Frank VonTurkovich 8/21: John indicated that Frank VonTurkovich would be attending the August 21 committee meeting. Members want VonTurkovich to have draft Citywide IZ regulations before he meets with committee on August 21. John will follow up with Paul Conner about distribution to Planning Commission (PC) and others. Members want to see details of the VonTurkovich development proposal at August 21st meeting. How many total units? How many will be affordable? How does VonTurkovich define “affordable”? Are they willing to make “affordable” units perpetually affordable? How many are single-family, duplex, or multi-family units? What is relationship of area of parcels to be developed to area of parcels that would be open space? Committee members are especially interested in “affordability” component of proposed development and whether affordability will be perpetual. 4. Discuss distribution of draft of IZ (Inclusionary Zoning) regs to developers and follow-up: Members discussed sharing of draft regulations with developers. Committee would send draft to developers along with an invitation to a meeting to discuss draft regulations. Question: to which developers do we send the draft? Todd suggested that draft be sent to everyone that had applied for a permit in the past five years for a development that would have triggered IZ if draft rules had been in effect. This would be any development including 12 or more dwelling units. Todd also suggested that we ask developers to submit written comments in responding to the draft regs. Todd’s point is that it is difficult for committee members or City staff to understand fully and accurately and commit to writing someone’s oral comments at a meeting. It is better that the person making the comments put them into written form. Committee members responded positively to Todd’s suggestions. Monica suggested that committee look at all UVM properties in SoBu. Members saw that task as beyond the committee’s role. Todd asked whether SoBu has a written agreement (or MOU) with UVM regarding use of its SoBu properties and other relevant topics. Committee members were not aware of any such agreement. Sandy asked John whether he had heard from Paul regarding sharing the draft IZ rules with the Planning Commission, developers, and others. John indicated he had not heard from Paul on this subject. Re the draft IZ rules, Todd asked the committee to consider three additions to the errata list of corrections to the draft IZ rules: (1) On page 2 of version without highlighting, first sub-item (b), change “person” to “legal entity”; committee members agreed to this change; (2) On page 3 of version without highlighting, delete all of sub- items (d) and (e) as unnecessary; committee members did not concur in Todd’s view that these sub-items are unnecessary; and (3) On page 5 of version without highlighting, change sub-item “(d)” to “(e)” as there is already a sub-item (d) in this subsection; committee members noted that this needed change is already on the errata list. 5. Discuss our position re potential special treatment of SEQ to prepare for future joint meeting with PC: Members first identified dates on which they are available to meet jointly with the Planning Commission. These dates are: (1) week of August 27th (2) September 4th, 5th, 10th, or 11th. John will make Paul Conner aware of these dates and committee’s desire for joint meeting to take place no later than September 11th. Committee members then discussed proposed and potential development in the SEQ. The Long property on Spear Street and the Dorset Meadows development proposal near the Cider Mill were mentioned. Sandy expressed surprise at how much density is allowed in the zones in Cider Mill area. What is history/background of development of the Cider Mill area zoning districts? Tim Barritt, current City Councilor, former DRB chair, and resident of a Cider Mill development, might be able to answer this. Monica shared that she is hearing from residents that are concerned about the population influx and loss of open space that development in SEQ will cause. Discussion moved to question of allowing or not allowing a developer to make a contribution to the City’s Housing Trust Fund in lieu of constructing affordable units in the SEQ. The State’s Fair Housing law was brought up. If SoBu were to allow the SEQ not to build affordable units, would the City be vulnerable to a Fair Housing lawsuit? John linked the concepts of Fair Housing/Inclusionary City. Do we want SoBu to be inclusionary at the neighborhood level? Committee members present did not formulate a position on this question at the meeting. It is difficult to weigh the pros and cons. In the end, it will be a Planning Commission and City Council decision. Members discussed need to reach out to Planning Commissioners before the joint meeting to connect with them and explore their understanding of the proposal to expand IZ to all zoning districts that allow residential development and any concerns/issues/questions individual Planning Commissioners might have. Members believe having a script would be helpful so the same questions are asked of each Planning Commissioner. How script would be developed was not established. Members present agreed to reach out to Commissioners as follows: Sandy – Ted and Bernie Todd – Monica Mike – Art and Duncan John – Jessica and Michael The Hill property, zoned Industrial/Open Space, was mentioned as an area ripe for development. It is located on Hinesburg Road on SW corner of where Hinesburg Road crosses I-89. Mike raised question of why doesn’t the City receive something of material benefit (beyond the increase in property taxes paid) when a property is up-zoned? Requiring an offset seems fair because the value of the property is greatly increased. Conversely, the City is responsible for providing an offset when it down-zones a property. This is the genesis of TDRs. 6. Discuss and commit to public education effort: Members had little time after identifying dates for September and October meetings. Members remain committed to this task. Tom’s summary will be an important element of this effort. 7. New business: Members set the following dates for September and October meetings: September 11th, 10:00 a.m. September 25th, 10:00 a.m. October 9th, 10:00 a.m. October 25th, 10:00 a.m. (Note: this date is a Thursday) 8. Adjourn: Todd left meeting at 12:25; as a result, a quorum was no longer present and meeting was effectively adjourned. “Bike rack” ● Tom will prepare a “Summary” of the proposed changes (from May 29, 2018, meeting minutes) ● 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.