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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 09/25/2018APPROVED on October 9, 2018 NOTE: Date/time/place of next meeting: Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 10:00 a.m., place TBD. AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE September 25, 2018, 10:00 AM, City Hall Members attending: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Michael Simoneau, Tom Bailey and John Simson (Chair); Members absent: Sandy Dooley, Todd Rawlings, Larry Michaels; Others: Monica Ostby, PC liaison, also present. Minutes by Tom Bailey AGENDA 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of minutes of 9/11/18 3. Chair’s remarks 4. Discuss suggestions and comments from Planning Commission 5. Plan public education effort 6. New Business 7. Adjourn 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests: John called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. and summarized emergency evacuation instructions. There were no changes to the agenda. 2. Review and approval of September 11, 2018 minutes: Leslie moved and Mike seconded that the September 11, 2018 minutes be approved as written. Motion passed, vote: 3-0-1. Tom abstained as he had not attended the September 11, 2018 committee meeting. 3. Chair’s remarks: John shared information concerning his recent meeting with Paul Connor about Paul’s announcement of new development in City Center (John offered to provide copies of the announcement). South Burlington Realty and Snyder/Braverman Development propose to build 543 housing units in City Center of which 32 units will be affordable at the 80% AMI standard. On that basis (and its location in the district) the development will receive a waiver of the Act 250 permit requirement. The affordable units, all rentals, will be sprinkled throughout the development. In addition, the “Shenk” development (on Market Street near Hinesburg Road) will expand and the expansion will include two new affordable units. John noted that the Allard Square and the CHT development’s units were counted towards the South Burlington Realty’s requirement to comply with the IZ regulation, even though the Allard Square and CHT had applied for, and been granted, their permits separately. Otherwise, the South Burlington Realty would have needed to include an additional 68 affordable units. John indicated he had expressed his disappointment to Paul Connor. 4. Discuss suggestions and comments from the Planning Commission: In advance of the Committee’s meeting Monica had circulated a summary of the views of the members of the Planning Commission, and she indicated that she had reached out to the other members to discuss the proposed IZ regulation. There followed a wide ranging discussion that touched on the Planning Commission’s apparent objection to implementing IZ in the SEQ. The Committee discussed redrafting IZ to omit the SEQ. It was suggested to propose a bond issue for development of housing instead of spending public money to maintain open/AG land. John emphasized that housing is for all the people and must be affordable enough that the people who work in South Burlington should be able to afford a house here, and raise a family and send their children to school here. A comparison was made to nurses not being paid enough to be able to afford to live near UVM Medical Center where they work. This discussion segued into the next topic. 5. Plan public education effort: Committee discussed ideas for outreach and a message for public education. Leslie suggested inviting Jess Hyman to the next meeting. Jess runs the Thriving Communities Initiative sponsored through CVOEO. The Committee agreed. John proposed an “Advocacy Subcommittee” to pursue public education. Mike agreed to pursue this idea. It was suggested that we should find a local employer who is having a hard time accommodating employees because of their long commuting distances. Tom agreed to contact Frank Cioffi at GBIC. Mike emphasized that affordable housing is required for economic sustainability of the community. Leslie pointed out an article by Art Woolf in the Burlington Free Press that indicated housing prices were rising but average salaries were actually falling. The Committee discussed writing articles regularly for publication in The Other Paper, SB VT Community Watch and on the City website. Monica suggested creating “one sheets” containing data relating to affordable housing which would be most adapted to the web. Leslie indicated that she had drafted an article that had circulated to John and would circulate it to the rest of the Committee for suggestions. 6. New business: None. 8. Adjourn: Leslie moved and Mike seconded motion to adjourn meeting at 12:00 p.m. Motion passed by vote of 4-0-0. “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.