HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-31-2008-6c
Orange County
Housing and Community Development
Date: March 25, 2008
To: Orange County Assembly of Governments
From: Mary Bratsch, Task Force Chair
Subject: Status Report -Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force
This memorandum is written to provide a status report of the progress made by the Land Trust
Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force created by the Assembly in September 2007. The
purpose of the Task Force is as follows:
1. To review issues related to the long term maintenance of affordable housing managed by
the' Orange County Housing and Land Trust (OCHLT) and make specific recommendations
to the Towns and Orange County regarding how these units may be maintained in order to
achieve long-term affordability; and
2. To review capital needs of the Orange County 10 Year Plan to .End Homelessness and
make recommendations regarding how OCHLT housing units may be used to meet the
identified needs.
Appointed members of the Task Force are: Land Trust Homeowner Mary Bratsch, Chapel Hill
Council Members Matt Czajkowski and Bill Thorpe, Hillsborough Town Commissioner Eric
Hallman, County Commissioner Valerie Foushee, Artie Franklin, Carrboro Alderman Jacquie
Gist, At-large Members Gary Kramling and Jeff Peloquin, and UNC-CH representative Bill
Rohe. Staff resource persons include: Robert Dowling, Susan Levy and Tara Fikes.
As of this date, two meetings have been held this year (February 20th and March 13th) at the
Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill. During these meetings, after a brief introduction to the
land trust model and the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, the-task force has worked to
understand the issues and challenges associated with the land trust. model and have begun to
discuss potential solutions to address future funding challenges. These potential solutions
include the following.
Jurisdictions could consider either making 15% of homes in a subdivision affordable to
those at 80% of median income or allow some combination of actual units and payments
in lieu of providing affordable housing. Any money generated from this scenario could
be deposited in a trust fund for use to address the affordability/maintenance issues of
the Land Trust.
Accept payments-in-lieu instead of requiring the production of dwelling units for
low/moderate income families. Any money generated from this scenario could be
deposited in a trust fund for use to address the affordability/maintenance issues of the
Land Trust.
Apply a "land transfer fee" on market rate units each time they are sold with funds
generated going to a trust fund.
Provide land in lieu of affordable units.
The Task Force will continue to discuss these solutions and others in the coming months with
the expectation of completing recommendations for consideration no later than June 15t
If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at
maryebratsch a~yahoo.com.