Agenda - 03-22-2016 - 6-a - Minutes

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13 1 He said the ingredients of housing costs are: land, public or private infrastructure, entitlements 2 in permit fees, cost of housing, cost of labor, profit margins, and market aspects. He said the 3 areas, which can be affected and changed, are being considered. 4 Commissioner Dorosin said he would love to hear on going updates from the multi- 5 department effort. 6 Commissioner Rich said when the BOCC approved the development of Whitfield the 7 developer made voluntary contributions to affordable housing. She said the idea of affordable 8 housing in the rural part of the County should be considered as well as who is being served by 9 the affordable housing. 10 Craig Benedict said staff has reviewed the inventory of affordable housing in the rural 11 parts of the County. He said a comprehensive picture will be presented to the BOCC. 12 Chair McKee suggested breaking affordable housing into two sections: low income 13 affordable housing (Community Home Trust, Habitat, etc.); and work force affordable housing 14 ($125,000 to $150,000 homes). 15 Michael Harvey said looking at the comprehensive plan and the land use map, high 16 intensity housing, in the 10 to 20 year transitions, is the highway 70 corridor, certain areas near 17 Hillsborough and Durham, and some areas of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He said it is clustered 18 in these areas as the services are located there as well. 19 Chair McKee asked if alternative water and sewer systems are being considered, can 20 work force affordable housing be offered outside these high dollar areas just mentioned by 21 Michael Harvey. 22 Michael Harvey said one of the rationales for recommending a rural residential master 23 plan development process is to allow that type of dialogue to occur. He said it is important to 24 remember that there are some intrinsic limits to such a dialogue, based on a density discussion 25 that must occur at another work session. He said the village concept is a possibility if the 26 infrastructure obstacles can be overcome. 27 Chair McKee said some smaller local builders may be attracted to these options. 28 Commissioner Jacobs said this discussion occurred at the BOCC retreat three years ago 29 and the idea of clustered development with on-site community systems was considered. He 30 said it is time to move past discussion and to try something. 31 Commissioner Price said she would like to try the cluster developments with a small 32 number of homes. She said those of modest income, who wish to live in a rural setting, should 33 be able to do so. 34 Commissioner Rich referred to the map on page 77 and asked if Michael Harvey could 35 clarify the dark grey areas. 36 Michael Harvey said these are transition areas that are managed, from a zoning 37 standpoint, by either Chapel Hill or Carrboro. He said the County has granted authority for 38 those areas to be developed in accordance with the joint planning land use planning agreement. 39 Commissioner Rich referred to the triangle on the bottom of the map, which is identified 40 as rural buffer. She asked if there is a reason this portion of land is considered as such. 41 Michael Harvey said that goes back to the joint planning land use planning agreement. 42 He said the area was rural in nature, with lots of farms. 43 Chair McKee recalled the discussion about the extension of the water line for fire 44 protection in that area. 45 Commissioner Rich said this triangular area seems out of character given that Chatham 46 County is developing right up to the edge of it. 47 Craig Benedict said it is known as the "lost triangle". 48 Michael Harvey said based on this work session, the BOCC desires a presentation 49 regarding how the options discussed this evening will look and a future work session on density. 50 Commissioner Jacobs said he hoped this discussion would include tax implications of 51 the various possibilities.