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12 <br /> 1 o Recommended Changes <br /> 2 • Score new construction and preservation projects separately <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Commissioner Price asked if the Board could apply more points if a project is preserving <br /> 5 existing housing stock, or gutting an existing home. <br /> 6 Travis Myren said that is a possibility, and the suggestions reflect some of the systemic <br /> 7 issues noticed between some of the new construction projects versus the preservation projects. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 • Community Design <br /> 10 o Scores comparable across projects <br /> 11 o New Construction Projects <br /> 12 • Adds mix of housing to an existing neighborhood <br /> 13 o No recommended changes <br /> 14 <br /> 15 • Community Sponsorship & Support <br /> 16 o Scores comparable across projects <br /> 17 o No recommended changes <br /> 18 <br /> 19 • Project Feasibility <br /> 20 o New construction <br /> 21 • Site control achieved <br /> 22 • Funding (other then County funding) is in place <br /> 23 o No recommended changes <br /> 24 <br /> 25 • Developer Experience <br /> 26 o Scores comparable across projects <br /> 27 o No recommended changes <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Recommendations for Consideration: <br /> 30 1. Due to the inherent differences between new construction and the acquisition <br /> 31 and preservation of existing housing, score and recommend new construction <br /> 32 projects separately so that they do not compete with the acquisition of existing <br /> 33 housing stock. <br /> 34 2. Define special needs populations as seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, <br /> 35 individuals or families experiencing homelessness, and victims of domestic <br /> 36 violence. The special needs score will be prorated based on the number of units <br /> 37 dedicated to serving residents with special needs. <br /> 38 3. Define residency as households currently residing or working in Orange County. <br /> 39 Clarify reporting to include marketing and recruitment efforts to Orange County <br /> 40 residents and reporting requirements once the project is completed. <br /> 41 4. Eliminate the ability to pay property taxes for non-profit agencies as a scoring <br /> 42 criterion since most affordable rental property is owned by a non-profit and <br /> 43 exempt from property tax. <br /> 44 5. Eliminate the ability to repay bond funds as a scoring criterion for non-profit <br /> 45 agencies since the focus of bond funds should be to serve lower income <br /> 46 households. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Commissioner Price asked if there was any discussion about increasing the number of <br /> 49 applicants for the bond funds, and whether this should be opened up to smaller developers. <br />