HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB Minutes 02-11-2020 Orange County Affordable Housing Advisory Board Minutes
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Chapel Hill Public Library
100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Members Present: Keith Cook (Chair), James Eichel, Ellie Kinnaird, Allison Mahaley,
Mae McLendon, Adejuwon Ojebuoboh, Noah Oswald, Blake Rosser, Jenn Sykes
Members Absent: Douglas Boemker (excused) Tammy Jacobs, Arthur Sprinczeles
(excused), Cain Twyman
Public Present: Olivia Fisher, Jean Hamilton, Caroline Presley, representatives of
Hart's Mill Ecovillage
Staff Present: Emila Sutton, Housing and Community Development Director, Erika
Brandt, Community Development Manager and Diane Beecham, Community
Development Specialist
I. Call to Order/Introductions — The meeting was called to order at 6:09 PM.
II. Approval of Minutes — On a motion by Mr. Eichel, seconded by Mr.
Ojebuoboh, the AHAB approved the minutes of the January 11, 2020 AHAB
meeting, with one amendment that Ms. Fisher was not in attendance.
III. Board Member Updates — Mr. Eichel attended a Committee on the
Environment meeting during which the Greene tract was discussed. He said
there will be an environmental impact statement before a final decision is
made on the tract's development. Ms. Kinnaird stated that the tract has been
discussed at two prior Assembly of Governments meetings. The three
jurisdictions have yet to agree on the amount of land to be devoted to
schools, parks and recreation, and affordable housing. Carrboro and the
County agreed on the amount of land to go toward each use, but Chapel Hill
requested the environmental impact statement before making a decision.
Jenn Sykes reported that a proposal for a 64-unit affordable housing project
near the Sportsplex was brought to the Hillsborough Planning Commission.
The Commission would like a financial impact study on the proposed project
and for the developer to partner with an affordable housing organization. The
AHAB would like more information about the proposed development.
After Corey Root's presentation on the Partnership to End Homelessness,
Ms. Kinnaird wants more information about the jurisdictions' efforts to combat
homelessness in tandem with the Partnership's focus on Rapid Rehousing.
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Ms. McLendon reported that this year's Project Connect was held at the
United Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, but the space was not large enough
and the event will need a new space next year.
Mr. Eichel reported that the Community Home Trust has a new executive
director, Kimberly Sanchez. The AHAB will invite her to a meeting.
IV. Department of Housing and Community Development Updates — Ms.
Sutton stated that the Department is currently hiring for the HCV program,
and temporarily closing the Department's satellite office in the Southern
Human Services Building until the program is fully staffed. The Department is
also hiring a Rapid Rehousing position and another Rehabilitation Specialist.
Ms. Brandt reported that the Orange County HOME Consortium is updating
the Consolidated Plan, which guides the use of HOME funds for the next five
years. There will be a series of meetings and webinars for residents to
participate in the process.
V. AHAB Presenting on the Board's work and Leading Community
Dialogue on Affordable Housing Issues — Mr. Cook stated that the AHAB
has identified the following priorities for the upcoming year: gentrification;
Rural Buffer review; Greene tract; potential manufactured home park
closures; acquiring new funds for affordable housing; expanding utility
assistance programs; continued funding for local housing voucher programs;
and attracting more landlords to accept housing vouchers.
Mr. Cook opened up the meeting for questions from community members.
Paul Voss, a representative of Hart's Mill Ecovillage, asked if there is a
County-wide community land trust. Mr. Eichel responded that Community
Home Trust (CHT) was created by the County 20 years ago and owns homes
in Chapel Hill and Carrboro that are sold to residents with low incomes. CHT
retains ownership of the land and provides a ground lease to buyers for 99
years. If the resident wants to sell, they are required to sell to CHT, who then
re-sells to another qualified buyer. The seller receives limited accrued equity.
Mr. Voss said that he is part of a group that will be developing land near
Efland. They want to develop part of the parcel as affordable housing. Since
they are new to the process, they want to know what funds are available, how
different departments interact (e.g., housing, planning and zoning), and how
to connect with non-profit affordable housing providers.
VI. Adjournment — The meeting was adjourned at 7.32 PM.
Submitted by Diane Beecham, Community Development Specialist
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