Orange County NC Website
Orange County Affordable Housing Advisory Board Minutes <br /> Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM <br /> Whitted Human Services Building <br /> 300 W. Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Members Present: Tammy Jacobs (Vice Chair), Mae McLendon, Arthur Sprinczeles, <br /> James Eichel, Allison Mahaley, Jenn Sykes, Cain Twyman <br /> Members Absent: Keith Cook (excused), Douglas Boemker (excused), Blake Rosser <br /> (excused), Adejuwon Ojebuoboh, Noah Oswald <br /> Staff Present: Emila Sutton, Housing and Community Development Director, and Erika <br /> Brandt, Community Development Manager <br /> I. Call to Order/Introductions — The meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM. <br /> II. Approval of Minutes — On a motion by Ms. McLendon, seconded by Mr. <br /> Eichel, the AHAB approved the minutes of the February 11, 2020 AHAB <br /> meeting, with an amendment from Mr. Eichel clarifying the mechanics of <br /> Community Home Trust in Section V of those minutes. <br /> III. Board Member Updates — Ms. Sykes said that many municipalities, <br /> including Hillsborough, are updating their zoning processes due to a change <br /> in state law intended to create more uniformity in zoning across the state. <br /> This will impact housing development. <br /> Mr. Eichel provided several news updates: The University of Virginia has <br /> committed to fund 1,000 affordable homes over the next decade; the U.S. <br /> House of Representatives passed a "Yes in My Backyard" act to promote high <br /> density residential zoning to improve affordability; and Charles Barkley is <br /> selling memorabilia with proceeds going to affordable housing in his <br /> hometown. He also reported that Deanna Carter with Community Home Trust <br /> has had a life-threatening event and is in intensive care. <br /> Ms. McLendon mentioned several housing developments in Chapel Hill, <br /> including high-rise apartments near the University and costly new senior living <br /> units. Ms. Mahaley asked whether UNC is engaging on affordable housing, <br /> particularly around the impact of student housing. Ms. Sutton mentioned that <br /> there is a UNC representative in the Orange County Affordable Housing <br /> Coalition and that UNC had an affordable housing summit in the fall. Mr. <br /> Eichel added that UNC invested in the Northside Neighborhood Initiative. <br /> The AHAB discussed several other affordable housing efforts, including <br /> potential affordable housing development on land owned by Ms. McLendon's <br /> church, Habitat for Humanity homes in Hillsborough, and partnerships with <br /> Orange County schools to provide teacher and workforce housing. <br /> Page 1 <br />