Minutes 12-10-2024 - Business Meeting

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9 Chair Bedford asked if this would be an Orange County decision only or if it had to go through the partners. Blake Rosser said that the Consortium members must agree through the local government affordable housing collaborative and that is made up of one elected official from each government partner. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to open the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS: Delores Bailey, Executive Director of EMPOWERment, Inc., said it is difficult for providers to help, but that they know and are committed to doing so. She said EMPOWERment will open the Peach apartment building in March or April 2025. She said the Peach apartment building will serve those at 30% AMI or below, and that the building is 70% complete. She said that EMPOWERment wanted to move into NOAH, or "naturally occurring affordable rental housing." She said that is housing, which is already affordable, but has no government money invested in it. She said that they were approached with three units, one in Carrboro and two were in Chapel Hill. She said that they would promise not to displace anyone. She described the property in Carrboro, which is 9.4 acres with 10 two-bedroom homes on the property. She said the intent was to buy it, invest in it, and then expand. She said it was a great location and where Carrboro wanted to expand, but they could not afford the property. She said that is why funding is so important. She said they are out there, doing the work. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Vice-Chair Hamilton, to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 6. Regular Agenda a. Authorize Notification Regarding Potential Change in Student Protection Methodology Used by the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee The Board authorized staff to provide notice to the parties of the Student Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Memorandum of Understanding (SAPFO MOU) that the student projection methodology will be changed to either the one employed by the Operational Research and Education Laboratory (OREd) or Carolina Demography and invite comment from the parties. BACKGROUND: Each year, a staff committee comprised of representatives from the County, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carborro, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and Orange County Schools prepares and transmits a report on student growth projections. This committee is known as the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC). The projections are compared to school capacity in an effort to predict when new school facilities might be needed. If the projections indicate a need for more school capacity, the County may plan to add capacity through the County's ten year Capital Investment Plan. The MOU contains a provision that authorizes the Board of Commissioners to change student projection methodology. The MOU requires the County to notifiy the other parties of a change to the methodology no later than February 1.