Title
State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP)-City of Gainesville Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Incentive Review and Recommendation Report Follow Up (B)
This item requests the City Commission consider recommendations made by the City SHIP AHAC in their Incentive Review and Recommendation Report that was originally presented to the City Commission on December 18, 2008; and to provide staff direction regarding the recommendations.
Explanation
The AHAC Recommendation Report provides various recommendations for encouraging and facilitating affordable housing in the City of Gainesville. The AHAC is required to address specified areas for review and may recommend a wide range of affordable housing incentives. The City Commission accepted the AHAC's Incentives and Recommendations Report on December 18, 2008. Due to time constraints, the report was not fully discussed. Within 90 days after the date of receipt of the AHAC's report, the City Commission must adopt an amendment to its Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) to incorporate the local housing incentive strategies it will implement. Staff is requesting City Commission direction regarding the AHAC's recommendations as presented in the report. Staff will return to a subsequent meeting in March 2009 to incorporate the City Commission's approved recommendations through an amendment to the City's LHAP, as required by Florida Statutes. Any recommendations adopted by the City Commission must be incorporated in the City's LHAP by March 31, 2009.
The SHIP AHAC's main purpose is to triennially review and evaluate established policies, procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, the adopted comprehensive plan, and eleven affordable housing incentives, and to recommend actions or initiatives to the local governing body to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of property to appreciate in value. At a minimum, the SHIP AHAC shall submit a report to the City Commission that includes recommendations and evaluates the implementation of affordable housing incentives in the following areas:
1) The processing of approvals of development orders or permits, as defined in s. 163.3164 (7) and (8), F.S., for affordable housing projects is expedited to a greater degree than other projects;
2) The modification of impact-fee requirements, including reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee payment for affordable housing;
3) The allowance of flexibility in densities for affordable housing;
4) The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for very-low-income persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons;
5) The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts;
6) The reduction of parking and setback requirements for affordable housing;
7) The allowance of flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations for affordable housing;
8) The modification of street requirements for affordable housing;
9) The establishment of a process by which a local government considers, before adoption, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that increase the cost of housing;
10) The preparation of a printed inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing; and
11) The support of development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed-use developments.
There were additional recommendations reviewed as requested by the City Commission and at the request of the AHAC as follows:
12) Other Affordable Housing Incentives:
Energy Efficiency;
SHIP Staff Support;
Property Taxes and Insurance;
Community Land Trust; and
Mobile Homes.
In accordance with 420.9076(6), F.S, incentives (a) and (b) must be adopted by the City Commission. All of the housing incentives and recommendations (a)-(p) are referenced in the attached AHAC Incentive Review and Recommendation Report.
Fiscal Note
None
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) discuss the SHIP AHAC Incentive Review and Recommendation Report; and 2) direct staff as to which recommendations outlined in the SHIP AHAC Incentive Review and Recommendation Report should be brought back to City Commission to be adopted by resolution in the City's LHAP by March 31, 2009.