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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04292004 Ag Min · · · CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA City Council Chambers, 7:00 pm I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Acceptance of Agenda IV. Approval of Minutes ~ Aprill, 2004; April 8, 2004 V. Unfinished Business VII. New Business , A. Affordable Housing Update L Presentation by Vanessa Brower ~. Public Comment 3. Planning Commission Discussion VI. Upcoming Meetings VII. Communications VIII. Adjournment April 29, 2004 · · · CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 29, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER Richard Berg called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. II. ROLL CALL Other members answering roll were Alice King, Jim Irvin, Cindy Thayer, George Randels, Liesl Slabaugh and Steven Emery; Jeff Kelety was eÆused. Lyn Hersey arrived at 7:11 p.m. Also present was BCD Director Jeff Randall. III. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Ms. Thayer made a motion to accept the agenda; Mr. Irvin seconded. All were in favor. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES April .1. 2004: Mr. Randels made a motion to approve the minutes of April 1, 2004 as written; Mr. Emery seconded. All were in favor. April ~ 2004: Ms. Thayer made a motion to approve the minutes of April 8, 2004 as corrected; Mr. Randels seconded. All were in favor. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS -- There was none VI. NEW BUSINESS BCD Director Jeff Randall reported that Planning Commission recommendations for both the Comprehensive Plan docket and Cottage Housing Ordinance had been passed to City Council for their consideration. Affordable Housing Update, Ms. Vanessa Brower Chair Berg asked Mr. Randall to introduce Ms. Brower. Mr. Randall commended Ms. Brower for the work she had done for affordable housing in Port Townsend and Jefferson County. Ms. Brower explained she had been associated with Common Ground, a non-profit organization based in Seattle. Since last September she has been Housing Director with Community Action Council in Jefferson County and OL YCAP. She discussed and answered questions regarding: · Affordable Housing Task Force, and 2003 Outcomes Report. . Solutions work sessions focusing on barriers and solutions, and Solutions Group subcommittees, resulting in a Housing Community Land Trust, with a controlled equity calculation where the affordability of the home ownership unit would be available into perpetuity for those who are income eligible. Some energy has been generated with a couple of non-profit organizations. . City of Port Townsend 2003 Work Plan for Affordable Housing Task Force, six sections recategorized from a checklist of 13 items presented by the Community Development Land Use (CDLU) committee. · Community development planning only block grant approved byCity Council last year for a comprehensive housing needs assessment to establish priorities and access resources. The draft $40,000 grant is near completion, and the application should be submitted next week. The assessment will include data already generated from other local organizations, fill data gaps needed for a complete assessment, what the data means and how they can make a difference in the community. Included in the RFP will be the HUD required process for changing the rent subsidy payments albwed to people in this community who are accessing Section 8. Most are fully gainfully employed and can't afford to rent a single family home. Planning Commission Minutes, April 29, 2004 I Page I · · · The 2004 work plan was drafted to tie it specifically to the housing element of the Comprehensive Plan. Policies as written in the Comp Plans for both Port Townsend and Jefferson County fit the affordable housing needs and are continuously quoted in their arguments. · Innovative opportunities, examples of ou"of-the-box ordinances: 1) Luxury tax on houses sold over median household price, put into a local housing trust fund for affordable housing for people under that bar; 2) Commercial development -- either provide housing per percentage of employees to be hired, or pay a like amount into a fund to provide forit, especially for minimum wage employees; Wyoming ordinance for work force housing. Second homes (vacation homes)-- no way to control versus primary residence. · Local Home Builders Association -- attempted feedback on cost of building (not big mul1i-family). Barriers were cost of land and cost of infrastructure, which they have no control over. Invited their representation on the Task Force although there has been little response. · Task Force meets 3rd Wednesday monthly, 8:30 a.m., City Hall. Lyn Hersey, Planning Commission representative, suggested contacting owners of vacant land in zones R-III and R-IV and is on the 2004 work plan. · Surplus government properties -- suggested Al Scalf; Jeff Randall/Dave Timmons, meet and look at putting on list. · At risk affordable housing properties, senior properties acquired and remodeled by fOFprofit developers through the HUD Section 8 Mod Rehab Program: 1) Admiralty Apartments (48 units) was sold. They prepaid their HUD mortgage and intend to singe out their low income old people, recycle the units and sell them as condos as they are allowed-- not force seniors out, but do not renew as low income senior housing. 2) Marine Plaza Apartments (40 units) have been for sale in the nonprofit community since 2002. They are looking to make serious profit, entering into a purchase/sale -agreement with a relatively creative deal of mixed income-- 10 units at market rate; 38 staying at same affordability threshold as mod/rehab covenant. 3) At risk by covemnt -- Discovery View Apartments, affordable senior housing, can be reconsidered within approximately 20 years. 4) San Juan Commons, until 2042. · Not for profit housing --16 units within city limits or East Jefferson County. OL YCAP owns all but one -- these will not go out of the affordability pool. OL YCAP saved three that were at risk of being foreclosed and took them over; they are running at a loss but serving people on SSI, etc. OL YCAP is basically covering these losses to keep them in place for [eople who can't work. · Rentals: 1) Laurel Heights, 50 family housing units-- fourplexes behind Town Pointe on line this year. 2) East Jefferson County, Hadlock, 15 units of senior housing will help replace stock that is being lost. Housing Community Lmd Trust, people looking at donating land for single family. 3) Collaboration project of Kitsap Consolidated Authority and Jefferson County Housing Authority, USDARD self help program and HUD Shop Program, will be in 3 phases. OL YCAP took option on 40 Ids in Hamilton Heights and will do 10/12/15 in a cycle -- sweat equity model for people making approximately 80% of the median income (family of4, approximately $40,OOO/year or--less, how much subsidy they can access through other programs they have avålable). · They are now able to work with Federal Home Loan Bank on the Home Start Program allowing for construction on a 5 year covenant. They must be a qualified first time buyer (within the last 3 years), contribute 30 or 40 hours/week. Nobody can trove in until all the houses in the phase are complete. PLANNING COMMISSION QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: · Q Mr. Emery: Some of the places mentioned as low income housing practice age discrimination. His friend is permanently disabled and has been told he has to wait until he reaches their threshold age before he can qualify. When asking if they have federal funding, he has been told these are tax credits, not actually subsidies, so they don't really have to do that; they can make up the written discrimination JDlicies and still get their money. His friend owns (approximate $6,000 equity) and lives in a 28' travel trailer on Marrowstone Island, pays $350/month for a space. Mr. Emery could see there is a possible solution since he doesn't qualify for the assistfrlliving centers, etc. There is a high proportion of disabled citizens that are falling through the cracks. Is there an effort to secure, not only affordable housing, but disabled housing without discrimination? A Mr. Randall: Reworded to ask if it is legal to say they only take older people when you have someone disabled and low income? He said the answer is, "Yes." Ms. Brower: They can discriminate between seniors and non-seniors, even with disabilities. Of the two tax Planning Commission Minutes, April 29, 2004/ Page 2 · credit properties in this community, one of them does have to accept persons under the age threshold with disabilities. Mr. Randall: He would probably qualify for Laurel Heights, 50 rental units for varied income levels including ADA units. Ms. Brower: 30%,40%,50%,60% of median income. Mr. Randall: He should get his application ready; those will probably go fast. Ms. Thayer mentioned it is easy to get discouraged with what is going on, but she encouraged people to look at how much has happened, since 1996 while doing the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Brower noted a lot is going on. She indicated the homeless count is frightening, mentioning sheis Continuum of Care Coordinator for homeless/housing in Jefferson County. Last September they did a street survey of homeless people, and the data was alarming. Over 50% of those counted were living outdoors or in vehicles and are single adults, many Wíh disabilities. The primary reason for being homeless was lack of money to pay for rent or inability to work; they did not have enough income to have an adequate shelter. Statistics were derived from personal interviews. Ms. Brower referenced the invitation from Sylvia Arthur to participate in an annual planning event for Continuum of Care Support Services, Olympic Community Action Programs. The State requires of every county a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness, due year-end 2004. She urged people to participate, to help and strategize. Q Mr. Berg: Ten houses at a time with sweat equity, can that program keep going? Where will the funding come from? A Ms. Brower: They are working on it and trying to make it a perpetual program, but t is dependent on biennium budgeting. Funding is from a variety of sources, HUD SelfHelp Housing, and Self Help Opportunity Program (SHOP) are primary sources. Kitsap Consolidated Housing Authority, in place since 1997, applies for more money every year, they write their grants so they can provide resources where it is timely. · Q A Mr. Randall: Is there a possibility there could be more if this project is successful? Ms. Brower: Absolutely. Chair Berg thanked Ms. Brower for her informative presentation Mr. Randall asked if anyone wanted to be involved in the Task groups that are ongoing. There was additional discussion regarding available housing. Mr. Randall spoke of the San Juan Alzheimer building. Ms. Brower said after their survey, there was aquestion of safety to the neighborhood regarding the school. Mr. Randall mentioned an approximate l20-unit assisted living facility north of Hancock Street. Chair Berg asked if there was anything involved that would be coming before the Planning Comni<;sion, e.g. an ordinance for a luxury tax. Ms. Brower indicated there was nothing on the radar screen. Mr. Randall spoke of ongoing public education. Ms. Brower thanked the Commission and stated the need for fresh blood. Mr. Randall then reported on issues pertaining to Point Hudson, that the City and Port are jointly meeting the evening of May 25th. He also noted work to be intensified on policies and recommendations relating to the Shorelines Master Program (SMP) stating the State Department ofEcology is requiring Port Townsend and three other communities to update their SMPs, that it will be coming before the Planning Commission for approval. VII. UPCOMING MEETINGS It was agreed that no meetings would be scheduled for the month of May, unless otherwise notified. · VIII. COMMUNICATIONS -- There was none Planning Commission Minutes, April 29, 2004/ Page 3 · · · IX. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mrs. Thayer and seconded by Mr. Irvin. All were in f3'or. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. ~~ Sheila A vis, Minute Taker " ... ('·2 TLt /U í~.. Richard Berg, Chair Planning Commission Minutes, April 29, 2004/ Page 4 "'''',