Minutes 05-12-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ordinance must be advertised in accordance with statute requirements and must be heard at a public hearing. The public hearing can be on a regular BOCC meeting agenda (e.g., it is not restricted to only the quarterly public hearings). A student generation rate study specifically for age-restricted housing (Option #2 above) would likely cost approximately $15,000 and would require staff time from all of the local governments within Orange County and the school districts to compile raw data. Option #1 would require County staff time to evaluate the information provided by the developer. If the ordinance is amended, there would likely be a reduction in impact fees collected (presuming age-restricted housing generates fewer students). The decrease would correspond to the amount of new housing that qualifies as age restricted housing under that amendment. Other housing type categories may increase if this type of housing is removed from the previous aggregated housing totals. Craig Benedict said in the upcoming budget, there is a request to review the student generation rates based on the previous study, along with a bit of an expansion of that study. He said an impact fee schedule would be created. He said the school impact fees do not cover 100 percent of the cost of putting a student in a seat in a public school. He said the school impact fee was anticipated to cover about sixty percent of the cost. He said he anticipates that these fees could climb again. Craig Benedict said if the Board would like an analysis of age restrictive housing to be done in the short term, and information came out of that analysis, then it could be wrapped into the school impact fee connection that will updated as soon as there is budget approval. He said the developer is present at the meeting this evening and can answer any questions about their proposal. He said approval from Chapel Hill has already been given, and time is of the essence. He said the payment of impact fees is usually done in the Certificate of Occupancy phase in Orange County. Chair McKee said it is not typical policy to allow anyone but staff to speak at a work session, but suggested allowing the developer permission to speak, in order to answer questions. Commissioner Rich asked if only age restrictive housing is being discussed tonight; as she brought up the issue of tiny houses before. Craig Benedict said age restrictive housing is the focus of tonight's discussion, and what is being proposed, with the reanalysis of the school impact fees, would capture one bedroom single family homes, which could include tiny houses. He said in the proposal for next year's reanalysis, the single family will be broken down by bedroom number; and there would likely be a lower fee for smaller houses. Commissioner Price asked if the BOCC is meant to make a decision at the next regular meeting about the proposed project. Craig Benedict said the project is not within Orange County's jurisdiction. He said it was approved by the Town of Chapel Hill in the fall of 2014. He said the product of the impact fee ordinances, throughout the County, are single family dwellings, and the developer would be paying about $11,000 per unit. He said the developer is asking the County to re-categorize age restrictive housing so that a different fee may be assessed. Commissioner Price asked if there is a time line for this to happen. Craig Benedict said the proposal to analyze, that he just reviewed, would not get results until October or November of this year. Commissioner Price asked if the developer's time line would be affected.