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9 <br /> 1 Sherrill Hampton described the rental rehabilitation fund and whether it should be <br /> 2 expanded. <br /> 3 Sherrill Hampton said the affordable housing goals were being met as it relates to <br /> 4 preservation activities. <br /> 5 Commissioner Marcoplos asked about the urgent repair program. <br /> 6 Sherrill Hampton said it is a state and locally funded major program. She said the cost of <br /> 7 repair was most times much more than the $8000 given by the program, and that the additional <br /> 8 funds from the BOCC were appreciated. She said that single-family funding was very important, <br /> 9 but additional investments would be needed; and the cost and extent of repairs, and a greater <br /> 10 pool of contactors would be needed as well. <br /> 11 Commissioner Dorosin asked about a theoretical house that needed $35,000 of repairs, <br /> 12 and whether they would have to come back multiple times. <br /> 13 Sherrill Hampton described the variety of grants that could be leveraged to pay for a <br /> 14 project, including state and local funds. She said these are deed-restricted, revolving loans. <br /> 15 <br /> 16 The Board began a discussion on affordable housing and areas for broad consensus. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Commissioner Bedford said it is important to include thoughts on transportation with the <br /> 19 affordable housing discussion. <br /> 20 Commissioner Marcoplos said the urgent repair funds are very important, and urged the <br /> 21 group to consider expanding that program, with the possibility of partnering with local training <br /> 22 programs and community colleges. He suggested a one or two-day "building blitz" with donated <br /> 23 supplies to participate in the urgent repair program as an annual event. <br /> 24 Chair Rich said it is important to get housing density in the right places, especially <br /> 25 around transit stops and the Greene Tract. <br /> 26 Commissioner McKee asked about having a conversation of moving into the rural buffer. <br /> 27 Commissioner Marcoplos said he was skeptical there would be consensus. <br /> 28 Chair Rich said she believed the Board should use available land and incentives to build <br /> 29 affordable housing. <br /> 30 Commissioner Greene said increasing the county's supply of land would also be <br /> 31 important. <br /> 32 Chair Rich agreed. <br /> 33 Commissioner Dorosin said the biggest issue with the rural buffer is a lack of <br /> 34 infrastructure. He expressed skepticism that using Habitat for Humanity, the Land Trust, and the <br /> 35 occasional DHIC project would produce more than incremental results. He said that investment <br /> 36 in housing supply and business required investment in infrastructure. <br /> 37 Commissioner Dorosin said without infrastructure investment, all investment would be in <br /> 38 municipalities. <br /> 39 Commissioner Greene echoed Commissioner Bedford's point about investing in areas <br /> 40 that have access to transit. <br /> 41 Commissioner Dorosin said access to transit disqualified too many areas, perhaps. <br /> 42 Commissioner Greene referred to Carrboro's use of a formula that recognized the large <br /> 43 cost that transit had on citizens. <br /> 44 Commissioner Bedford said she hoped for a further conversation around transit <br /> 45 expansion. <br /> 46 Chair Rich echoed the potential of using existing infrastructure in economic development <br /> 47 districts for encouraging housing investments. <br /> 48 Commissioner Bedford said there are lessons to be learned about RTP, and the lack of <br /> 49 mixed-use development that has increased costs for people that work there while also <br /> 50 exacerbating traffic issues. <br />