HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-23-2007-6bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 23, 2007
Action Age of
Item No. to
SUBJECT: Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force
DEPARTMENT: Housing/Comm. Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proposal Tara L. Fikes, 245-2490
PURPOSE: To consider approving the creation of Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance
Task Force and appoint a member of the Board of County Commissioners and the Chair of the
Affordable Housing Advisory Board to the Task Force.
BACKGROUND: At the March 29, 2007 Assembly of Governments meeting, Robert Dowling,
Executive Director of Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, discussed the challenges his
organization faces with long-term maintenance of land trust properties. Subsequently, the Chair
of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Town Mayors proposed the creation of
a Task Force to discuss this issue and develop recommendations to address the identified
challenges at the September 20, 2007 Assembly of Governments (AOG) meeting. During that
meeting, members of the Assembly suggested expanding the purpose of the Task Force to
include discussion of the capital needs of the Orange County 10 Year Plan to End
Homelessness. The detailed proposal is attached to this abstract with the additional language
from the September AOG meeting highlighted in italics.
The proposal requires the BOCC to appoint .its representative to the Task Force as well as a
general member that will represent Orange County. Staff recommends that, in addition to a
member of the BOCC, the Board appoint the Chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to
Task Force as well.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the creation of
Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force and appoint a member of the Board of
County Commissioners and the Chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to the Task
Force.
Proposal
Creation of a Land Trust Affordable Housing Maintenance Task Force
2
Purpose: 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. 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.
Rationale: OCHLT was created by and continues to be supported by the governmental units for
the purpose of ensuring the development and availability of affordable housing in the county.
Thus, the housing stock managed by the Land Trust represents an important community asset
that must be maintained in perpetuity in order to achieve its organizational goals.
It is noted that affordable housing developed by various organizations may also be developed
with considerable public support and also represents an asset that should be preserved for the
benefit of the greater community. However, the administrative and legal structure of their
organizations and the affordable housing they produce may require their potential long-term
maintenance needs to be addressed differently. Nevertheless, the work of this Task Force can be
used to inform future discussions regarding the long-term maintenance needs of other housing
organizations.
It is also noted that there is a need for capital resources to provide 40 permanent housing units
for chronically homeless individuals and there may be an opportunity to provide this housing in
partnership with OCHLT.
Task Force Structure, Appointment and Timeline
Structure:
The Task Force will have eleven (11) members
shall appoint each member.
as follows and the designated governing body
Orange County (1)
Town of Chapel Hill (1)
Town of Carrboro (1)
Town of Hillsborough (1)
UNC-CH (1)
Land Trust Homeowner (1)
DeveloperBuilder who has worked with
OCHLT (1)
At-Large members (4) -One each appointed
by Orange County and the Towns. The At-
Large members shall be persons who have
considerable knowledge of OCHLT and/or
affordable housing development in Orange
County.
Timeline for Completion:
The Task Force shall report to the Towns and Orange County not more than six months after the
last member is appointed or June 1, 2008 whichever is sooner.
Staff/Resource Team:
Tara L. Fikes, Orange County Housing/Community Development Director
Robert Dowling, Executive Director, Orange County Housing and Land Trust
Susan Levy, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County