Minutes 02-18-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 Agreement will have to be amended, requiring approval of all participating entities (i.e. Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro) after a joint public hearing. • While this may promote development of `affordable housing' these issues represent only 1 small component of housing costs. This issue transcends Planning and will not be resolved solely through altering existing land use regulations. Recommendation The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information and provide comments/direction on potential subdivision amendment(s). Chair McKee said he appreciated the presentation, but he is not sure that the changes being discussed will affect the affordability of the lots. He said he understands that affordable housing will not be developed in the northern part of the County as it is away from water and sewer. Michael Harvey said this is just one aspect of a global issue that warrants discussion. He said if there is significant reduction in lots sizes with the implementation of innovative, off-site septic with increased density allowances and with incentives for developers, there may be an improvement with respect to the cost of the lot. He said the value of land in a protected area versus an unprotected area versus the rural buffer will all be different. Commissioner Pelissier said this has been a great presentation and it was done in response to her petition. She said the original intent of her petition was not so much affordable housing but rather preservation of rural character. She said the hope of an affordable housing byproduct was secondary. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there are any successful examples of the options outlined this evening from other locations. Craig Benedict said several examples have been received that included a variety of the options. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there is anything that could be developed to differentiate the size of a development. Michael Harvey said there is some viability with this idea. He said further discussion is needed regarding incentivizing developers. Commissioner Pelissier said in her tenure on the BOCC, every major subdivision has been high-end housing. She asked if mixed housing could be incentivized to allow for greater diversity of price points. She asked if this idea is even realistic. Michael Harvey said there is probably no incentive that can be offered unless the County is purchasing the property. He said the value of land is the value of land. Commissioner Jacobs asked if permanent protected open space is valued by Orange County, could the BOCC direct the appraiser to appraise at a reduced value for permanently protected open space in a subdivision. Commissioner Price said conservation easements could perhaps reduce costs. She said the Community Home Trust has several homes that are mixed into the high-end subdivisions. She said she does not promote the idea but noted it points to an example. Commissioner Dorosin referred to Commissioner Jacobs' point about incentivizing. He said it is important to determine what the County wants to incentivize. He said he would like to address the question of affordable housing. He said if the main concern is environmental preservation then it is not practically possible to have affordable housing in these areas. He said it may be worth exploring how development in the environmentally sensitive areas can subsidize the building of affordable housing elsewhere. He said it may be an impact fee or a cost in exchange for the incentives. He said he is very excited about the concept of off-site septic. Craig Benedict said there is currently a multi-department effort on affordable housing.