Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB minutes 051716AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD (AHAB) 2501 Homestead Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Minutes of Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Members Present: Patsy Barbee, Chair; Arthur Sprinczeles, Vice Chair; Tammy Jacobs; Noah Oswald; Diane Beecham and Daniel Bullock Excused Absence: Eleanor Kinnaird, Nannie Richmond, Jason O'Quinn, Brika Eklund Unexcused Absence: Kolby Herndon Staff Present: Audrey Spencer- Horsley, Director; and Crystal Coble, Administrative Assistant W elcome/Introduction The AHAB Chair Pasty Barbee called the meeting to order at 5:48pm. Approval of Minutes Due to lack of a quorum the minutes of April 12, 2016 could not be approved. Department Report /County Report Audrey Spencer - Horsley gave updates pertaining to the county's Proposed Affordable Housing Strategic Plan and the outreach that she participated in over the last four weeks. Ms. Spencer - Horsley summarized the outreach. Ms. Spencer - Horsley provided a summary of the comments from over 20 listening sessions that had been conducted and the Executive Summary of the Proposed Affordable Housing Strategic Plan that was handed out to interested boards, committees, organizations and residents. Outreach and listening sessions included the following: Orange County Housing Authority Chamber of Commerce Data Community Event Orange County Board of Commissioners Hearing and Work Sessions The Partnership to End Homelessness Orange County Housing Coalition Human Relations Commission Resident Advisory Committee Group hosted by Community Empowerment Fund ESL Classes at El Centro Hispano Seymour Center, Chinese Mandarin Club and the Senior Spanish Club Orange County Planning Board Board on Aging Roger's Road community Spanish Speaking Residents from the Summer Nutrition Program hosted at NC Cooperative Ext Center Karen Community Cedar Grove Community, Mt. Zion AME Church Ms. Spencer- Horsley shared some of the comments and concerns that were mentioned during the listening sessions and discussion of the AHAB are as follows: • How are person's with a criminal back able to obtain housing? • What is the role of the AHAB in regard to Bond Funding? • The Landings at Winmore is a mixed income housing project and low income tenants, it was expressed are made to feel that they have limited use or restricted use of the amenities and did not have the same rights at the property as those living in units with higher incomes. It was suggested that this be addressed in future mixed income housing projects. • The mobile home park on Highway 70 have very substandard living conditions, the sewer system does not work on a regular basis, residents are not allowed to gather on the property and utility bills are extremely high ($2000 - $3000 in some cases). • Chinese seniors shared concern about taxes and could there be a plan for some assistance or relief and that senior housing needs to be near transportation, grocery stores and other community facilities like the senior centers. • There was discussion about whether Habitat Homes are a good wealth investment and the challenge in re- selling. • There was some interest in creating more shared housing properties and accessory dwelling units within certain setback requirements. • There was discussion about what the county should work on in trying to incentivize affordable housing development and increase the number of landlords with affordable rentals under the Housing Choice Voucher Program. • Aging Board/Department wants to be integral part of the planning processes for senior housing. They have a Master Aging Plan for senior affordable housing and needs and are currently working on a development in Hillsborough with CASA. • Concerns were voiced about Orange County residents that reside in rural areas of Orange County being isolated from the rest of the community and services, including food and transportation. Transportation was also a consistent theme and it was suggested that the county to come up with a practical solution that can be immediately implemented to close the gaps in transportation. This included in particular transportation for residents of Northern Orange as well as access to job opportunities, county facilities and community amenities. • Affordable housing developments need to incorporate larger homes to accommodate generations of families that have a tradition of living together. Following this discussion and questions about what the County's Planning Department was working on Ms. Spencer - Horsley informed the AHAB that most of the information was in the Proposed Affordable Housing Strategic Plan. She said she would provide a copy of any new information from the Planning Department. Ms. Spencer - Horsley informed the AHAB that she sent the proposed dates, September 10, 2016 and September 12, 2016, for the Bus Tour to the Donna Baker, BOCC's clerk. She also asked that the BOCC please let the AHAB know if there were any projects or locations that the BOCC members would like be added to the Tour Agenda, Mrs. Spencer- Horsley informed the AHAB that the Chair of the OCHA is interested in the proposed Affordable Housing Conference and that she would share the AHAB's discussion with the OCHA at their next meeting. With regard to the Bond Education Committee, Ms. Spencer - Horsley reported that the BOCC decided to leave one or two slots open in order to make sure there was diversity on the committee with regards to ethnicity and geographically. She indicated that the positions would be advertised in the newspaper throughout June 2016 and that a decision was made not to delay the initial meeting; they believed that the new committee members would be able to catch up when they come aboard. Ms. Spencer - Horsley informed the AHAB that she invited the Homeless Program Coordinator, Cory Root, to attend the June 2016 meeting. Other Business The next regularly scheduled AHAB meeting was rescheduled for June 21, 2016 at 5:30pm. The meeting will be held in Chapel Hill at the Southern Human Services Center Conference Room D. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:12pm. Respectfully Submitted: Crystal B. Coble, Administrative Assistant Audrey Spencer - Horsley, Director Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Department