Orange County NC Website
8 <br />/ Fees for public water/sewer service extensions also pose a potential barrier to <br />affordable housing development. In response, in 1998, OWASA implemented a <br />tiered residential availability fee system for homes in five size classes with the lowest <br />tier including homes less than 1701 square feet. There is currently discussion <br />regarding the inclusion of a new lower tier of service as well. <br />/ There is a continued need to combat the myth that affordable housing lowers <br />neighborhood property values. <br />Recommendations <br />1. Establish short-term (5-year) and long-term (10-year) affordable housing targets <br />for development. Affordable housing targets should focus on low income rental families <br />(those below 50% of the area median income, i.e., $31,400 for a family of 4 in 2000) and <br />increase incrementally over the plan period as both the capacity and commitment of <br />local providers grow and local funding sources are developed. <br />Recommended Short-term Housing Targets <br />of Median <br />Income(MI)/ <br />Housin Tenure Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Total <br />Number <br />Units Total Public <br />Subsidy @ <br />$20 000/unit <br />c50% IVIUOwner <br />c60% 1VI1/Rental 20 <br />~ SO 22 <br />60 24 <br />80 26 <br />100 28 <br />110 120 <br />400 $10 million <br />Subtotals 70 $2 104 126 13S 520 $10 million <br />S 1-80% MUOwner 25 30 3b 42 50 183 $4 million <br />Totals 95 112 140 16S 188 703 $14 million <br />Given that approximately 12,281 households in the County are experiencing <br />housing problems, 703 housing units addresses approximately six (6) percent of the <br />estimated total housing need in Orange County during the next five (5) years. <br />$14 million in public subsidies will generate $80 million in affordable housing stock. <br />(703 units x $112,000 [estimated cost per unit) = $80 million) <br />County bond initiatives, including the current bond monies and a new 2001 bond <br />issue, can be used to finance the recommended housing targets. <br />[Reference: Inventory and Needs Subcommittee Report] <br />2. EstabUsh an Affordable Housing Advisory Board for Orange County. The Board <br />would assist the Board of Commissioners with the following: <br />• Prioritizing needs; <br />• Assessing project proposals; <br />• Aid the process of publicizing the County's housing objectives; <br />