Orange County NC Website
added that additional points may be awarded for criteria associated with building appearance, <br /> quality of construction, compatibility with surrounding housing, ability to foster a sense of a <br /> secure community, and contributes to neighborhood revitalization. The final criterion is <br /> Developer Experience and there are three sub-criteria. The first is unchanged and the other two <br /> are intended to allow agencies that have never yet done a construction project to score points <br /> based on their experience in related fields. <br /> Allan Rosen said that the advisory board would like to receive any comments from the <br /> Board of County Commissioners and respond to any questions. They have received comment <br /> from five different agencies, and this was included in the agenda packet. The next meeting of <br /> the advisory board is tomorrow night and they will prepare a set of final revisions for the County <br /> Commissioners' consideration at the October Vt meeting. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked about the process and if projects that include housing units <br /> in all three categories must submit three separate proposals. Allan said that in the past they <br /> have dealt with this separately. He said that hopefully they would clarify this at their next <br /> meeting. <br /> Chair Jacobs made reference to page 22 and suggested leaving a "weasel" phrase so <br /> that during the pre-application meeting, a strategy can be developed for dealing with a multiple <br /> thrust application. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that there seemed to be an encouragement for rental housing <br /> in this round. He asked if this was intended or if it was a function of what the greatest need is <br /> now. Allan said that they believed that rental housing was the greatest need at this time. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that Board of County Commissioners has raised concerns <br /> about having funds available when opportunities present themselves as land comes on the <br /> market. He said that the whole concept of land banking might not have an opportunity to be <br /> considered because land disappears quickly. <br /> Commissioner Brown wants to thank all for the report and suggested keeping a <br /> database of everything that is done with bond money. She is interested in land banking and <br /> said that we need criteria and asked if the advisory board could finish these revisions by the end <br /> of the year. Allan said yes. Commissioner Brown asked about a "variety" of housing types in <br /> one single application and Allan said that this could be addressed in the pre-application <br /> process. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about the "buying back" program and said that she thought <br /> that the County would have an opportunity to purchase back the properties in case they went <br /> public so that they could be made affordable. <br /> Tara Fikes said that the conversation originally occurred related to the local Affordable <br /> Housing Trust Fund. She said that this fund might be the most appropriate fund to use for a <br /> "revolving purchase". <br /> Chair Jacobs said that it was a legal issue with a revolving fund. Geof Gledhill said that <br /> there is always an issue about using bond money for a revolving fund. He said that it was better <br /> to set up a reserve fund and use bond money for projects. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that in the interest of encouraging homeowners to maintain <br /> their property, he hopes that we make it simple and easy to do such a thing. <br /> Geof Gledhill talked about this issue. He said that the equity sharing formula only comes <br /> into play if the house is going to be lost to the affordable housing community. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that this was brought up before and that he wants to protect <br /> the County's interest and it was perceived at a public hearing that equity sharing was unfair and <br /> he does not want to provide a disincentive for people to keep their houses up. He would like to <br /> understand this better. <br /> Commissioner Gordon came in at this time at 8:30p.m. <br />