Town of Chapel Hill header
File #: [19-0596]    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Discussion Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 5/22/2019 In control: Town Council
On agenda: 6/19/2019 Final action:
Title: Discuss Affordable Housing Goals for Rental Housing Development.
Attachments: 1. Draft Staff Presentation, 2. Housing Advisory Board Recommendation, 3. Research Overview, 4. Council Questions with Staff Response


title
Discuss Affordable Housing Goals for Rental Housing Development.
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Staff:
Department:
Loryn Clark, Executive Director
Housing and Community
Sarah Osmer Vi?as, Assistant Director

Nate Broman-Fulks, Affordable Housing Manager

Emily Holt, Affordable Housing Development Officer


Overview: The Town Council has expressed interest in developing an equitable and predictable formula and procedure for determining payments-in-lieu for rental housing development. This item:
1. Provides an overview of the Town's historical approach to negotiating affordable housing contributions for rental housing; and,
2. Reviews benchmarking research and findings; and,
3. Proposes a framework of guiding principles and goals for affordable housing in new rental housing development going forward. The establishment of these goals could then be used as a guide to inform the development of payment-in-lieu formula options for Council consideration.

We anticipate returning to the Council in the fall of 2019 with formula options.


Recommendation(s):
That the Council review and provide direction on the intended affordable housing goals for new rental housing development.

Background:
* The Affordable Housing Policy adopted by the Council originally in 2000 and amended in 2009 states:

"It is the expectation of the Council that applicants seeking approval of rezoning applications containing a residential component will incorporate a "15% affordable" feature into their plans, and that mechanisms will be proposed to assure ongoing affordability of these so-designated dwelling units. At its discretion, the Council may accept a payment-in-lieu of all or part of the affordable housing obligation. The payment amount shall be established by Resolution."
This policy is applicable in cases where a rezoning is requested to increase residential density above what is allowed under the existing zoning for the property.
* To date, the Council has negotiated affordable housing in rental hou...

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