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Minutes 11-10-08 MINUTES OF THE BOYNTON BEACH AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008, AT 6:30 P.M. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Frances Francis, Chair Octavia Sherrod, Community Improvement Margaret Johnson Manager Woodrow Hay Shirley Jaskiewicz Lamont Robinson (arrived at 6:57 p.m.) ABSENT: Jeanne Heavilin, Vice Chair Brent Clayton Angela D. Girtman Sherry Johnson Robert Taylor Jeffrey Wooster I. Call to Order Chair Francis called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll. III. Approval of Agenda Motion Ms. Jaskiewicz moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Johnson seconded the motion that passed unanimously. IV. Approval of Minutes Motion Ms. Jaskiewicz moved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting. Ms. Johnson seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 1 Meeting Minutes Affordable Housing Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 10, 2008 V. Review of Current Affordable Housing Incentives Octavia Sherrod, Community Development Improvement Manager, advised the plan currently utilized was the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) for fiscal year 2008/2009. The strategies set forth in the Plan were designed to assist the City in creating affordable housing. Various professions were represented on the Board, and it was the Board’s responsibility to make recommendations to the City Commission for any actions to be taken. The strategies set forth in Florida Statute 420 and the City’s Affordable Incentive Plan were as follows. The expedited process of permits for affordable housing projects. The process was necessary to commence development. Ms. Sherrod was unaware of the timeframe involved in obtaining a permit. While developers could anticipate plan approval within three to five days, review issues could delay the process. It was recommended developers advise the City at the time of application that the permits were for affordable housing projects. Board members suggested this be conveyed to developers, and that a checkbox be added to the application form indicating the permits were sought for affordable housing projects. Ms. Sherrod would check with Plan Review to determine issues that would preclude developers from receiving plan approvals expeditiously. Some of the issues that could delay development included infrastructure, brownfields, and the layout of a specific development. It was noted there were occasions where developers attempted to expedite an entire project when a portion of the project had been allocated to affordable housing. In these instances, to avoid special consideration by the Building Department, it was suggested the process be more stringent. The modification of impact fee requirements including reduction of waiver of fees and other methods of fee payment for affordable housing. Ms. Sherrod explained there currently was no provision for waiving impact fees. In the past, funds received from other sources were utilized to pay impact fees. The City had entered into a definitive agreement with Clipper Cove Apartments. Each year for a period of time, the City received a certain percentage of Clipper Cove’s profits which were utilized by staff to either purchase land or pay permitting fees. Mr. Robinson, a general contractor, noted there were times when it had taken him a week to 15 working days to obtain a permit for the construction of a house. He believed the issues causing the delay were beyond the control of the Building Department and included lack of personnel and outdated information online. There were times when he had obtained a permit to build a house in two days. Depending upon the project, it was possible to obtain a permit within three to five days if the same product approval and floor plan were used. He pointed out, in his experience, fees had never been waived. Palm Beach County allowed existing use credit for residential construction on vacant lots that had prior residential use. The credit applied to 2 Meeting Minutes Affordable Housing Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 10, 2008 residential and road impact fees and could yield savings up to $2,000 per home. Mr. Robinson explained some portion of the existing property would have to remain to take advantage of the reduced impact fees. The valuation of the last house he built was $265,000, and the impact fee was 1.5% of that amount. He pointed out the impact fees varied for municipalities, and the criteria was based on the amount of land available in a particular municipality. The allowance of increased density levels for affordable housing. Ms. Sherrod pointed out the City’s workforce ordinance required a certain percentage of workforce housing units be incorporated in a development for developers to be eligible for the higher density land use. Ms. Jaskiewicz hoped that the emphasis had not been placed on multi-family dwellings, as Boynton Terrace had not been successful, nor had multi- family housing been as popular as once believed. Ms. Sherrod noted it was not her intent to delve into a philosophy about multi-family housing, but rather to establish incentives for providing affordable housing. Mr. Hay pointed out a developer would likely derive a greater profit by increasing the density. Ms. Sherrod added the density bonus would be subject to compatibility with the surrounding natural and physical environment, site constraints and concurrency management requirements. The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for very-low income and low-income persons. A reservation mechanism was not necessary, as adequate capacity existed to serve any infill project initiated with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) target area. The assumption regarding roads, utilities and recreation was based on available acreage and density limits of the Future Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan. State concurrency laws required the City maintain adequate public facilities and build new facilities once the 90% capacity had been reached. The existing infrastructure consisted of parks, schools, roads, public transportation and a shopping mall. The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential districts. Zoning regulations allowed accessory buildings in districts as long as they conformed to the minimum building site regulations applicable in the district where the building was to be located. The City of Boynton Beach would maintain its flexible existing practice in dealing with this issue on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Robinson indicated an accessory dwelling must share the same address and electrical and water utilities with the property in front. The maximum allowable property for accessory buildings was 1,000 square feet. Mr. Robinson noted every municipality he dealt with allowed a fully functional kitchen in an accessory dwelling. Ms. Sherrod would verify this information to determine its applicability in Boynton Beach. The reduction of parking and setback requirements for affordable housing. The current regulations required off-street parking for two vehicles. Parking was a challenge throughout the City, with single-family housing as well as Planned Unit Developments (PUD). Setbacks required 25 feet frontage and 7.5 feet from the side. 3 Meeting Minutes Affordable Housing Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 10, 2008 Variances, if any, had been granted for lot size requirements. It was noted many people wished to expand rather than leave their homes as a result of the economic instability. It was also pointed out many individuals opted to build up rather than back. The modification of street requirements for affordable housing. Due to the concerns for safety and aesthetics, there would be no modifications to current regulations governing streets. In order to conform to the surrounding community, developers had been able to apply for waivers and were not required to install sidewalks. While sidewalks reduced the amount of space allocable to parking, regulations required off-street parking for two vehicles. Ms. Sherrod advised one of the streets in the target area had no sidewalks on either side of the street, while a newly- built house had a sidewalk installed in front. The house included a garage, and there was enough space for two vehicles to park off street. Ms. Sherrod noted in the past, people had lobbied for sidewalks. It was not known whether the City would require a homeowner building a new house to install a sidewalk. Ms. Jaskiewicz and Messrs. Hay and Robinson believed sidewalks should be in place for safety purposes. Ms. Sherrod reminded the Board there were no plans to modify current regulations. The establishment of a process which the City of Boynton Beach considers before the adoption of any new legislation that may increase the cost of housing. Ms. Sherrod noted the Planning Department kept her apprised of any plan amendments or new legislation that would impact the affordable housing program. Community Improvement had worked closely with the CRA, the City Manager’s Office and the Development Department in the implementation of the workforce housing ordinance. The preparation of printed inventory of locally-owned public lands suitable for affordable housing. Community Improvement maintained an inventory of properties available for affordable housing in suitable residential areas. The City would convey the lands to income-eligible individuals. The support of development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed-use developments. Transportation provided in the City included Molly’s Trolley, and the City had accessibility to the Tri-Rail and Palm Tran systems. Ms. Sherrod noted the City would be receiving $2.9 million through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The item had been presented by the City Manager to the Commission at its last meeting. The objective of the program was to ensure stabilization of the City’s neighborhoods by purchasing foreclosed properties. Once received, the funds would be encumbered within 18 months, and were required to be expended within four years. 4 Meeting Minutes Affordable Housing Board Boynton Beach, Florida November 10, 2008 It was anticipated the Local Housing Assistance Plan would be completed by the weekend and would be available on the City's website. In order for the funds to be accessed, it would be necessary for the City to submit an application to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by December 1, 2008. VI. Recommendations for New Incentives Ms. Sherrod noted at the last meeting, the Board had expressed an interest in land trusts. To that end, she contacted Stan Fetterman, of the Florida Housing Coalition, and he agreed to attend the December 8, 2008 meeting. Ms. Sherrod noted any recommendations by the Board would be submitted to the City Commission. Ms. Jaskiewicz inquired whether Delray Beach had a land trust. Brenda Cornelius, Affordable Housing Administrator, replied in the affirmative, noting the land trust had been more successful at its inception when home prices were rising. She was a resident of Delray and believed that when the houses were purchased and placed in a land trust, they were not affordable for the people who were willing to purchase a land trust property. Ms. Sherrod requested the Board members contact her with any suggestions or recommendations. Ms. Jaskiewicz suggested Board members not present be advised that Mr. Fetterman would be attending the next meeting. VII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:39 p.m. J&: 0 ',- v- J'h-~ - Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 112608 5