HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 11/26/2019November 26, 2019, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 1
Approved on December 3, 2019
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE November 26, 2019, 10:00 AM, City Hall, Champlain Room
Members attending: Tom Bailey (arr. 10:07), Leslie Black-Plumeau, Paula DeMichele, Sandy Dooley, Cindy Reid (arr. 10:48), Michael Simoneau, and John Simson Members absent: Todd Rawlings Others absent: Monica Ostby (PC liaison) Guests: Paul Conner, SoBu Dir. of Planning & Zoning; Regina Mahony, CCRPC; and Patrick O’Brien & Robin Jeffers, S.D. Ireland Company, AGENDA
1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests 2. Review and approval of minutes of 10/22/19 and 11/04/19 committee meetings 3. Chair’s Comments: 4. Review verbal and written comments by guest developers at 11/4 meeting as incorporated into
Inclusionary Zoning draft prepared by Regina Mahony
5. Vote on changes to draft resulting from review
6. (if time) Update on housing land priority identification project work – Mike & Tom 7. (if time) Review 2020 Work Plan to schedule Committee work
8. (if time) Reports and updates by committee members 9. Adjourn
1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests: John called meeting to order at 10:03 a.m... John reviewed the exit procedures. John welcomed our guests. There were no public
comments.
2. Review and approval of minutes of 10/22/19 and 11/04/19 committee meetings: Mike moved and Paula seconded motion to approve the minutes of the11/04/19 meeting as drafted. Motion passed (5-0-0; Tom &
Cindy had not yet arrived.) Action on the 10/22/19 minutes was deferred to a subsequent meeting. 3. Chair’s Comments: John shared that he, Leslie, Sandy, and Mike had attended the SoBu Economic Development Committee’s meeting on November 25, 2019. Members of both committees provided information relating to each committee’s history, current activities, goals, and how the two committees might work together. It was a productive and constructive exchange of information and perspectives. John expects the Economic Development committee to submit a statement of support re the proposed rules that will the current Inclusionary Zoning regulations relative to City Center and expand the area to which they apply to the Transit Overlay District and small area surrounding Hinesburg Road. John also shared that a presentation of the South Burlington Land Trust (SBLT) was on the 11/18/19 City Council (CC) meeting agenda. The presentation included a proposal to add 2¢ to the property tax the revenues from which would be used to purchase open space. Mike’s understanding is that all CC members present except Tim Barritt had expressed support for this proposal. John’s view is that such a proposal is
premature as the TDR committee’s report, which contains proposals to improve the TDR program and a new definition of dwelling unit, has not yet been sent to the CC. It is currently being reviewed by the Planning Commission. Sandy asked whether the SBLT had submitted a written report or other documentation to the CC
in support of this proposal. Paul indicated that nothing written had been submitted but the SBLT had presented visuals which could be viewed by watching the meeting on Channel 17. Paula asked about the status of the appeal of City’s TDR regulations. Paul explained that a VT Supreme Court decision regarding the
TDR rules that were in effect at the time of the appeal is expected in the next few months. He added that since the Environmental Court’s decision striking down the SoBu TDR regulations, the City reviewed its TDR rules, proposed modifications to them, and put these modified TDR rules into effect. As a result SoBu’s current TDR
November 26, 2019, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 2
rules are different from the TDR rules that were appealed and will be the subject of the Supreme Court’s
decision. 4. Review verbal and written comments by guest developers at 11/4 meeting as incorporated into Inclusionary
Zoning draft prepared by Regina Mahoney: Committee members and guests present discussed the following
changes that Regina drafted based on input received at the November 4th meeting or subsequent
communications:
● clarification: Current rule for maximum price for affordable units in area of City not covered by Inclusionary rules is 80% of AMI. However, the price of these units is not based on the number of bedrooms; it is based on a family size of four (4). Committee does not propose to change these rules. Committee proposes to increase maximum household income for affordable units in area of City not covered by Inclusionary rules
from 80% to 100% of AMI. ● are applications for subdivision that result in permit to divide a property into twelve or more lots (available for residential housing) covered by the Inclusionary rules? Members agreed (decided) that the
dwelling units built on lots subject to the inclusionary requirement must comply with inclusionary rules (for example, with respect to maximum price, maximum purchaser household income, and perpetual affordability). ● re 18.01 C. (2)(a), members agreed (decided) on Regina’s proposal to delete language re integration
and substitute language used in density bonus section. ● re 18.01 B. (2), members agreed (decided) that language Sandy proposed stating that for purposes of setting percentage of congregate care housing units that would be subject to the Inclusionary requirement, these housing units would be treated as rental residential units. Same section, members agreed (decided) that the offset or bonus units that would apply to the units contained in a congregate care facility were they defined as dwelling units shall be added to the residential units of a joint congregate/residential development provided the addition of the offset or density units does not result in exceeding the maximum density regulations in this section. ● re 18.01 C. (2)(b)(iii), members agreed (decided) to delete “gross floor area” in lines 2 and 4 and substitute “living space”; to delete “70%” and substitute “90%”; insert “in the development” (in line 4) after “market rate units”; delete “580”, “800”, “960” and substitute “450”, “650”, and “900”, respectively; and change
“3-bedrooms” to “3 or more- bedrooms.” ● re 18.01 C. (2)(b)(iv), members agreed (decided) to retain this language as previously drafted. ● re 18.01 C. (2)(b)(v), members agreed (decided) to add the new first sentence Regina drafted (as
suggested by R. Jeffers). ● re 18.01 C. (2)(b)(vi), members agreed (decided) to add this subsection with the following changes: delete “When and wherever possible,” and “and bathroom.”
● re 18.01 C. (2)(c)(vi), members agreed (decided) to add new sentence at end as suggested by R. Jeffers and supported by Regina. ● re 18.01 D. (5)(a), members agreed (decided) to add a 2% per year price increase for each year of ownership to the options for maximum resale price. ● question re 18.01 D. (5)(a), do we need to state that buyer household income can be up to 100% of AMI?
● re 18.01 D. (5)(a), members agreed (decided) to add new sentence at end suggested by R. Jeffers and supported by Regina. ● re 18.01 D. (5)(a)(iv), members agreed (decided) to changes in this subsection suggested by r. Jeffers and supported by Regina. ● re 18.01 E. (1)(b), members agreed (decided) to retain proposed language (i.e. not to approve suggested deletion). ● re 18.01 E. (1)(c)&(d), members agreed (decided) to add language stating that “credit” inclusionary units earned under these provisions are ineligible for offset or bonus units.
● re 18.01 E. (1)(e), members agreed (decided) not to add this proposed new section. Members do not want to burden DRB with a lot of discretionary provisions when they have had little experience with Inclusionary rules as they now apply only to City Center district.
● re 18.02 D. (3)(b), members agreed (decided) to change “gross floor area” to “living space” and to allow affordable units to be no less that comparable market rate units in the development.
November 26, 2019, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 3
● re 18.02 D. (3)(c), members agreed (decided) not to add entirely new (and long) subsection here and
decided instead to have subsection state that “Continued Affordability” requirements for units approved under
18.02 are the same as “Continued Affordability” requirements for units approved under 18.01 with the
following exceptions and then state the exceptions.
Regina will make agreed-upon changes on 120/2/19 and send to committee members and guests for review at
12/03/19 committee meeting. Regina asked that folks review the notes in the document that were not
discussed at this meeting and email her about any s/he believes needs to be discussed/modified on 12/03/19.
Everyone thanked Regina for her exemplary work.
John asked Paul to describe the review process from this point to the Planning Commission’s public hearing on
12/10/19. Paul’s response: staff, including City Attorney, will review the proposed changes to the document
warned for the public hearing as soon as they have the new language. They will do their best to do this work
so that the proposed changes, along with staff input, may be sent to Planning Commissioners on 12/06/19 and
included with the warning for the 12/10/19 Planning Commission meeting.
5. Vote on changes to draft resulting from review: All votes/decisions are included in agenda item 4. above.
6. (if time) Update on housing land priority identification project work – Mike & Tom: Due to lack of time deferred to a subsequent meeting. 7. Review 2020 Work Plan to schedule Committee work: Due to lack of time deferred to a subsequent meeting. 8. Reports and updates by committee members: Due to lack of time deferred to a subsequent meeting.
9. Adjourn: At 12:03 p.m., Mike moved and Tom seconded motion to adjourn. Motion passed (6-0-0; Cindy had left at 12:00 p.m.).
Bike rack: ● 1/8/19 Emails to K. Dorn and D. Young to be completed by 1/24/19 City: DONE! ● Keep and address at 1/24/19 committee meeting. Work on Committee’s page on the City’s website ● Combine with item immediately above. (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): All bike rack tasks should include date of assignment and date for task completion.