HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 08/07/2003CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado
August 7, 2003
4-6p.m.
Kay Rios, Chair
Isabel Garity, Vice Chair
Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753
Marty Tharp, City Council Liaison, 970-484-5711
Board Members Present: Kay Rios, Jon Fairchild, Isabel Garity, Joe Herbert,
Jane Phelan, Denise Rogers, Jeff Taylor and Peter Tippett
Advance Planning Staff Present: Maurice Head
Council Members Present: Marty Tharp
Also Present: Mary Warring, Margie Joy, North Front Range Metropolitan
Planning Organization; Bob Smith, City of Fort Collins Utilities Department
Kay Rios called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:05 p.m.
There was no public discussion.
New Busin
Minutes
Jeff Taylor moved to accept the July 10, 2003, minutes as presented. Peter
Tippett seconded, motion carried unanimously, 7-0.
North Front Range MPO Public Involvement Plan
Mary Warring and Margie Joy distributed materials and presented a draft plan
to solicit public input on and build awareness of NFRMPO programs and
plans. Projects that will be covered by these adopted, formal standards range
from the five-year Transit Improvement Plan to the 20-year Long Range
Transportation Plan. Outreach methods will be tailored to each project. The
NFRMPO representatives asked for suggestions from the Board on identifying
or reaching underserved populations, especially those in need of affordable
housing and/or public transportation who have had difficulty attending open
public meetings in the past.
Marty Tharp suggested using the City Newsletter included with City utility
bills. Jon Fairchild suggested using the same method used to generate
attendance at public meetings on the City Plan Update, which included
officially recognizing and recording attendees' opinions and input. Isabel
Garity noted that going to the targeted groups will be a huge undertaking.
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Aug. 7, 2003 Minutes
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Comment period is 45 days which ends in mid -September; the plan will be
reevaluated every six years. Any suggestions or comments on the materials
distributed should be e-mailed to either mjoy@nfrmpo.org or
mwarring@nfrmpo.org.
Floodplain Regulations and Stormwater Drainage Master Planning
Bob Smith returned to answer questions and take suggestions from the
Board on materials distributed at the July meeting and the follow-up
information on specific drainage basins requested by the Board.
Jeff Taylor asked about how problem areas are prioritized in conjunction with
development. Mr. Smith said since projects must be completed in a cost-
efficient manner, they are ranked by 1. the benefit/cost ratio; 2. the number
of structures a project will remove from a floodplain; 3. the number of road
crossings affected and 4. what he called a "wild card": If there is the
possibility to piggyback onto another department's project, such as the
Traffic Department's improvement of the intersection of Drake and Taft Hill
Roads, a Stormwater project can move to the top of the list.
The consensus of the Board was that the current approach to
Floodplain Regulations and the Stormwater Master Plan was
reasonable and members were in agreement with proposed changes.
Kay Rios thanked Mr. Smith for all the hard work his department has put into
updating the regulations and the master plan and the additional information
for the Board. Mr. Smith will return to the Board once City Council has
provided additional direction on the proposed regulations.
I-25 Subarea Plan
Kay Rios presented the updated letter from the Board to City Council
opposing the proposed UE zoning while supporting the importance of having
a plan in place in this area.
In response to suggestions from the Board, the following changes were
made:
In the second paragraph, the third sentence now reads: However, the plan
as proposed would not be supported by this board.
In the third paragraph, "over 500 acres" was changed to "more than 1250
acres already designated as UE".
Ms. Rios will forward the corrected letter to Maurice to be included in
the next City Council packet; copies of the final letter will be sent to
all members of the AHB.
Old Business
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Aug. 7, 2003 Minutes
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Sales Tax Revenue/Reduction of Affordable Housing Funding
Marty Tharp reported that for July, sales taxes are down while use taxes are
up, for an overall .5 percent deficit for the month. City Council will schedule
public hearings on the budget in September.
Kay Rios asked for suggestions on how to best make the case for restoration
of funds for affordable housing. Ms. Tharp said now is a good time, since the
Council is considering the upcoming year's policy agenda. She also suggested
members of the AHB plan on appearing during the open public testimony
portion of Council meetings, to be sure affordable housing issues remain in
front of Council and to build support with the public.
Kay Rios asked that the Policy Committee meet to develop a plan to
approach Council and that the item appear on next month's agenda.
City Plan Update
Kay Rios reported the Citizens Advisory Committee is wrapping up its
recommendations on Principles and Policies within City Plan. There is still no
consensus within the CAC on the GMA boundaries, and Ms. Rios felt the
overall understanding of affordable housing needs and existing programs
among members of the CAC was limited. She once again urged the
Affordable Housing Board to snake its own recommendations to City Council
on the Principles and Policies, to be sure Council understands the need to
maintain options for the future and flexibility to address the needs of decades
to come.
The Policy Committee will draft the AHB recommendations on the
City Plan Update once it is finalized.
AHB Work Plan
The Board agreed by consensus to discuss the Work Plan in October.
Impact Fee Exemption
Kay Rios asked that this item remain on the agenda, although it is dependent
upon tax revenues and the budget process.
Update/Reports on Subcommittee Efforts
None.
Liaison Reports
Kay Rios reported that Dial -A -Ride rural service is going up for bid, and four
groups are expected to submit proposals. She explained that the issue is that
funding from the City's Office on Aging has run out and, unlike in previous
years, service has been cancelled to those living just outside the area served
by fixed bus routes rather than continued through to the next funding cycle.
Without a contractual agreement with a provider, service to seniors or those
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Aug. 7, 2003 Minutes
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covered by ADA requirements is in limbo. Dial -A -Ride representatives are
meeting with County Commissioners about possible funding; Marty Tharp will
investigate the situation for City Council.
Other Business
Vacant Land for Affordable Housing
Maurice Head presented a Buildable Lands Inventory Report that showed
3,104 acres zoned LMN (low -density mixed -use), the most appropriate
zoning for affordable housing projects, within the City's current GMA
boundary. However, 37 percent of those acres face development constraints
of some kind. Of the remaining acres, Mr. Head estimated that about 80
percent are tracts of 100 acres or more held by single landowners most likely
to sell large parcels for market -rate housing. The most appropriate acreage
for affordable housing is between five and 15 acres, of which there are "a
sprinkling" throughout the City, according to Mr. Head. Therefore, the
perception that space for affordable housing is readily available within the
current GMA boundaries is not supported, although at first glance, LMN-
zoned acres seem plentiful.
He added that some developers of large market -rate projects approved with
the stipulation that part of the acreage be devoted to affordable housing are
now trying to sell those acres to nonprofit organizations such as CARE
Housing rather than build affordable units themselves. Marty Tharp
mentioned that the possibility of the City adopting inclusionary zoning is still
on the table, pending legal review.
Kay Rios asked Mr. Head to identify the number of LMN-zoned sites
of 15 acres or less, for a presentation to the next meeting of the
Citizens' Advisory Committee of the City Plan Update.
She will also e-mail the representatives of the NFRMPO for figures on
the number of people who live outside Fort Collins and commute to
the City for work; Mr. Head will look for this as well.
Impact Fees
In a personal report, Jon Fairchild has discovered that his scrape -off in Old
Town is now subject to all impact fees which were not paid when it was
originally built pre-1950, adding approximately $8,000 to his project. This
could be a major disincentive to infill and re -development of substandard
housing at affordable rates.
The Policy Committee will add this to its list of topics. Marty Tharp
will also look into it for Council.
Board Roster
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Aug. 7, 2003 Minutes
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Any changes to the roster distributed in the packet for this meeting should be
e-mailed to Maurice at mhead@fcgov.com.
Jane Phelan, with the agreement of the Board, thanked Marty Tharp for
attending and being involved in Board meetings.
Next meeting
September 4, 2003, 4 p.m., 281 N. College Ave.
Meeting adjourned 5:20 p.m. on a motion by Jeff Taylor seconded by Joe
Herbert.
Respectfully submitted by
Kate Jeracki
August 13, 2003
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