AGENDA DATE: 5/17/2023
TITLE:
Title
Ordinance to Provide Grants or Loans for Affordable Housing
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Consider adoption of an ordinance to enable the County to make grants or loans to support the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Herrick, Dimock, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): Stacy Pethia, Housing Policy Manager
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In April 2019, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) released the Comprehensive Regional Housing Study and Needs Analysis. The report identified the need for an additional 10,070 affordable housing units in Albemarle County to be created by the year 2040.
On July 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Housing Albemarle, the County’s new housing policy, but delayed implementation of the following elements until a package of developer incentives to support the construction of affordable housing was approved and implemented:
1) the increased percentage of affordable housing units in residential developments subject to rezonings or special use permits;
2) the increase in compliance periods for affordable housing units; and
3) the new price levels for both affordable for-sale and for-rent units.
Between June and October 2021, staff held four meetings with members of the developer community to discuss the components of an incentives package to support the provision of Affordable Dwelling Units (ADU) and developers’ efforts to meet the County’s affordable housing goals.
On February 16, 2022, the Board held a work session to discuss a proposal for an Affordable Housing Overlay. Based on feedback received during the work session, staff determined that an alternative approach to developer incentives was more appropriate.
On May 4, 2022, the Board held a second work session to discuss affordable housing incentive programs. The focus of this work session was on a possible ADU Program ordinance, which could include developer incentives. As a result of this work session, the Board directed staff to submit a Resolution of Intent (ROI) to consider amending the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to include an ADU Program.
On February 1, 2023, the Board held a work session to review and provide feedback on a proposed Affordable Rental Housing Grant Program to support the construction or preservation of affordable rental housing.
On April 19, 2023, the Board held a public hearing on the Affordable Rental Housing Grant Program. Following the public hearing, the Board directed staff to draft a revised ordinance that simply enables grants or loans, without references to any specific Affordable Rental Housing Grant program(s). The Board also directed further consideration of grant program specifics at a later date, following the convening of affordable housing stakeholders that includes members of the Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: Staff has revised proposed Ordinance No. 23-A.2() (Attachment A) to remove references to the proposed Affordable Rental Housing Grant Program, as directed. If the revised ordinance is approved, staff will schedule a work session to discuss the specifics of a grant program to support the construction of affordable housing.
BUDGET IMPACT: Implementation of the ordinance is anticipated in the staffing levels for a future incentive program. Any affordable housing grant or loan program developed will be brought forward for Board consideration and any budget impacts will be included in those program discussions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board adopt the attached proposed ordinance (Attachment A) to enable the County to make grants or loans to support the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Ordinance