Minutes 11-01-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said providing regular updates to the Board, possibly bi- annually, is one of the action items. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is any particular desire to provide affordable housing in rural Orange County. He said this plan does not address rural areas at all, unless housing was built on a transit line or with existing water and sewer. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said that is right for larger units, but does not preclude individual units or small projects from being done. She said vacant units would be a good focus for the rehab program. Commissioner Rich referred to attachment two, and asked if the household income range will be made consistent with the changes made in the previous discussion, from 50% to 60%. Audrey Spencer-Horsely said yes. Commissioner Dorosin referred to Commissioner Jacobs' comment about rural areas, and asked if a criteria line about dispersal should be added. He said funds have been set aside for manufactured housing, and the staff has been tasked with reviewing County owned parcels that could be used for smaller affordable housing developments. He said the other thing that could be done would be to acquire other properties for the purpose of affordable housing in the rural areas. Commissioner Jacobs said he attended a meeting with rural residents where questions about affordable housing were raised. He said these residents are being asked to support the bond, and know of people in need of affordable housing, as well as those seeking to age in place. He said finding land near bus routes would meet one of the urbanized-type criteria. He said density can be increased when water and sewer are in place, but community systems should not be precluded, when designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the designs of the utility that is responsible. He said this would offer some control to the County. Chair McKee referred to the community systems idea, and asked if additional wording could be added where projects, utilizing County-approved standards, would also score the same as project with water and sewer. Commissioner Jacobs said this would address the scoring discrepancy. Travis Myren said language that says "a community septic system, consistent with standards of the water-sewer boundary agreement" could be added. Chair McKee said the language must be carefully tailored to include Orange County regulations or water and sewer boundary agreements. He said the legal staff should be included in making this change. Commissioner Burroughs said transportation is a huge issue. She is concerned about reducing scoring as pertains to transportation, but encouraging new rural housing to be located near bus lines would alleviate some of her concerns. Commissioner Price echoed Commissioner Jacobs' comments about rural housing. She said one cannot assume that all jobs are in urban areas. She said she may rate water and sewer more highly than transportation, as bus routes can be changed. Commissioner Pelissier echoed Commissioner Burroughs' comments. She said she is not in favor of lowering the point value associated with transportation. She said the cost of housing is not just the housing, but it is transportation as well. Commissioner Price said not everyone gets on a bus to go to work. She said once homes are in place, and community developed, other services will come. Chair McKee said he tends to agree with Commissioner Price. He said it would incentivize a developer to look more closely at a rural project if the point incentive was on a community system. He said a one-point shift will not make much difference, and the Board must try to figure out a way to serve the entire County. He said he does not want there to be a public perception that only urban areas matter.