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DEFINING COUNTY-WIDE GOALS Joal Broun asked if the percentage of affordable housing should be increased, or should we be satisfied with the current requirements. h2ark Chilton stated that Chapel Hill and Carrboro have established goals. He asked if Orange County and Hillsborough have goals. Eric Hallman stated that Hillsborough has looked at what other jurisdictions have done, and they have a project coming up that will add 17 new affordable housing units. Hillsborough will be taking a look at affordable housing requirements. Moses Carey stated that cooperating ~~~ith others is a priority for the County as evidenced by the number of projects the County has participated in the bond issues before the public encouraging affordable housing. The Comprehensive Housing Strategy coming out on Monday will help define what some of the gaps are. The County has not discussed a specific goal or number of units. The County has discussed energy and money to stimulate affordable housing in the county's jurisdiction. Jacquelyn Gist stated that because the land is cheaper in the county, she stated concern that all the affordable housing will be constructed outside the municipalities. She stated that she worries about the social dynamic that would create an exclusive community. Mark Kleinschmidt stated that Chapel Hill encourages integrated affordable housing in every development, and they are «~ell on the «~ay to~i~ards producing the county's first inclusionary zoning ordinance. Sally Greene stated that the 15% affordable housing goal in Chapel Hill is actually a soft l~%. The first option for developers is the small house, which is not necessarily affordable, and whatever it is can explode to a big house in 2 1/2 years. The second option is the affordable house. The det%eloper can choose payment in lieu. Diana McDuffee asked where the 1 ~% affordable housing goal came from. She stated that building outside of the three to«~ns is a different situation. Jim tUard said he gives Kevin Foy credit for the 15% goal. The idea was to push developers but not too much so they will seek legislative relief. It is possible that the 15% goal could be increased. I~~Iark Kleinschmidt said that in Larkspur, all the houses are beautiful and you cannot tell which is affordable. Developers worked with the Land Trust to make 15% permanently affordable. Barry Jacobs asked how the density bonus works in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Sally Greene said that the Habitat folks used it for the Rogers Road development. Alex Zaffron stated that the density bonus was ineffective, but since the small house ordinance t~--°as adopted, Cairboro has started seeing production. He stated that the 15% s goal been sho~~-~n to be effective in several states. Barry Jacobs said that with no water and sewer to speak of, it is difficult to encourage density in the County. The County is working on economic development districts that will have water and sewer, but the municipalities have annexed some of it. There have been t«~o major subdivisions in the last years. The inevitable outcome of the rural buffer is that we need higher density. It is hard for people in any neighborhood to accept -consequence of supporting rural buffer - we have to deal with it in a proactive way. Is it legal in North Carolina to transfer development rights?