Orange County NC Website
41 <br /> Kimberly Sanchez said it is an impossible question due to great need on both sides, noting <br /> renters who stabilize become homeowners and homeowners who stabilize move to private <br /> market. <br /> Delores Bailey said she disliked pitting rental against ownership and emphasized that for- <br /> profit developers offering affordable rentals must maintain permanent affordability rather than <br /> temporary commitments. She said some developments like Shelton Station haven't maintained <br /> affordable commitments adequately. <br /> Ansel Pritchard asked how long they commit to keep the units affordable. <br /> Delores Bailey said it's not years. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said she was surprised that some units are only kept affordable for <br /> 30 years. She asked if the non-profits had any statistics on inventory held by hedge funds and <br /> investors to use the properties as rentals. <br /> Delores Bailey said it is happening, but they don't have the statistics. <br /> Commissioner Bedford informed participants about General Assembly committee <br /> activities that could limit counties'taxation abilities, potentially reducing available housing funds. <br /> She said it's time for nonprofits and housing advocates to engage with the General Assembly. <br /> Delores Bailey asked if that reduces the amount of money available to housing non-profits. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said it could, and it would force the counties to go to sales tax, <br /> which is regressive. <br /> Commissioner Carter said one potentially positive change being discussed would close <br /> loopholes allowing developers to receive property tax exemptions for affordable housing without <br /> adequate ongoing compliance monitoring. She asked about other counties' budget allocations <br /> for affordable housing programs. <br /> Kimberly Sanchez said Durham and Wake passed bonds to support housing. She said CHT <br /> worked with Self-Help to shape the property tax bill. <br /> Delores Bailey said Durham offers additional subsidies beyond bond funding through <br /> home buyer programs that have helped people purchase homes, while Orange County <br /> participants in similar programs haven't resulted in local home sales due to inventory and subsidy <br /> limitations. <br /> Blake Rosser said he would investigate what other municipalities are doing. He said it may <br /> be possible for the Board to allocate portions of the $5 million every three years in bond and CIP <br /> funding toward 30%AMI or below housing. <br /> Delores Bailey mentioned housing choice voucher homeownership possibilities. <br /> Blake Rosser said that it's a possibility, but the required income levels would disqualify <br /> people from the program due to high housing costs. <br /> Lynn Nilsson said transportation could be put along Old 86 and Hwy 86. She suggested <br /> that could be changed in the land use plan. <br /> Ansel Pritchard said that's what Habitat was considering as well. <br /> Lynn Nilsson said another challenge is septic limitations in the rural areas when looking to <br /> add ADUs, and alternative methods of providing septic would be helpful. <br /> Chair Hamilton said they'd had separate discussion on water and sewer possibilities in <br /> rural areas. <br /> Lynn Nilsson added having the workforce so far away from employers makes it difficult for <br /> employees to consistently show up for work when there are weather related issues. <br />