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the OWASA Board report. <br /> The report was received for information. <br /> b. Housing Bond Program Policy <br /> The Board heard a report from the Housing Bond Policy Task Force <br /> Keith Cook, chair and member of the Housing Bond Policy Task Force along with a number <br /> of other individuals from other agencies in the County summarized the information in the agenda. He <br /> presented their recommendations. <br /> Commissioner Crowther asked about the building permit being a criteria and noted that <br /> usually after a building permit is approved, it expires after six months which may not allow enough time for <br /> building. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the average price of a house at this time and was told by <br /> Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes that the cost of an average house is $120,000. <br /> In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Tara Fikes said that along with the urgent <br /> need program, they is a need to rehabilitate houses. <br /> In answer to a question from Chair Brown, Keith Cook said that they are looking at housing for the <br /> very low income and for single people. <br /> Chair Brown asked about the availability of money and Tara Fikes said that the money must be <br /> used for renovations, repairs and new homes. Chair Brown asked if there is any way to keep affordability of <br /> these homes through restrictions or agreements. <br /> Commissioner Gordon expressed a concern about the affordability and how that is captured in the <br /> point system. She felt that there may be equal emphasis placed on those with varying degrees of need and <br /> said that she would like those who are more needy to be able to get some of this money. She appreciates <br /> all the work done by this task force. <br /> John Link said that the task force needs to meet with the County to develop a timeline for the <br /> bond monies. <br /> Allison Werner, Orange Community Housing and spokesperson for the steering committee, <br /> thanked those who participated on the bond committee. She supports the policy they just summarized. She <br /> said that they have received funding from six housing organizations as seed money to help keep them going <br /> for the first six months. There is also a commitment to help establish this coalition. <br /> Chair Brown asked staff to bring back a recommendation on funding and information on land <br /> trusts and on our building permit process and how we can keep the housing affordability through deed <br /> restrictions. She also would like some standards for energy efficiency. She feels this committee should have <br /> on it an architect and someone who knows about energy efficiency, The report will come back to the <br /> Board in December. <br /> C. Flexible Development Annual Report <br /> The Board heard the annual report on flexible development, covering the period July 1, 1997 <br /> through June 30, 1998. <br /> Planner Don Belk presented this second annual report. In summary, the purpose of the report is <br /> to evaluate the effectiveness of the standards in accomplishing the goal of Flexible Development, "to <br /> preserve agricultural and forestry lands, natural and cultural features, and rural community character." <br /> He said that eight (8) Concept Plans were reviewed during FY97-98 under Flexible Development <br /> procedures and standards. Six of the eight applicants will implement the Flexible Development option. Five <br /> applicants submitted a single concept plan under the conservation option. One applicant submitted two <br /> plans, but intends to use the Flexible Development Cluster Option. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to page four which described Planning Board Chair <br /> Karren Barrows' comment that she felt the plans being presented with minimum lot sizes and the <br /> conservation option are not achieving the goal that was expected. Also, Planning Board member S.A.M. <br /> Brooks stated that she felt the Flexible Development Plan's conservation option cuts a great break for <br /> developers. Commissioner Gordon said that she feels that what they have in place for Flexible Development <br /> needs to be evaluated to see if it is doing what we want. <br /> A motion was made by Chair Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to send this report <br /> back to the Planning Board for further evaluation and a possible recommendation for the Commissioners' <br /> goal setting retreat in December or a timeline on when to expect a response. <br />