HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 07/10/2003CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado
July 10, 2003
4 - 6 p.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, Jane Phelan, Adrienne Pic, Denise Rogers,
Jeff Taylor and Peter Tippett
Advance Planning Staff Present: Ken Waido, Maurice Head
Council Members Present: None
Also Present: Bob Smith, City of Fort Collins Utilities Department; Cathy
Miller, CARE Housing Inc.; Les Kaplan
Kay Rios called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4 p.m. The
Board welcomed new members Adrienne Pic and Peter Tippett.
New Business
Minutes
Denise Rogers moved to accept the May 1, 2003, minutes with the following
corrections:
Under Liaison Reports, the first sentence now reads: The Office on Aging
funding for rural trips has been exhausted so Dial -A -Ride is no longer offering
that service, even for medical needs.
Jeff Taylor seconded, motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
Floodplain Regulations and Storm Water Drainage Master Planning
Bob Smith presented background on proposed updates to City Floodplain
Regulations for all floodplains other than the Poudre River. The purpose of
floodplain regulation is to reduce the risk to property, health and safety. To
that end, the proposed update recommends stricter regulations for new
development and less strict regulations for existing structures; stricter
regulations for the floodway and less strict regulations for the remaining
floodplain, and stricter regulations for residential development and less strict
regulations for commercial development. All Storm Water projects are funded
through citywide Utilities fees and must be cost-effective to be undertaken.
He provided Commission members with maps, a copy of the Floodplain
Regulation QuickGuide with definitions and diagrams, and a matrix
comparing current and proposed regulations. He also outlined the areas that
have been removed from floodplains through the installation of pipes and
culverts, and future projects. There are about 2700 structures in floodplains
in Fort Collins now; there will be about 400 left when all projects are
completed.
Mr. Smith explained that the Poudre River is covered by strict federal
regulations that allow little or no development within the floodplain or
modification of the floodway, although existing public structures, such as bike
trails, are grandfathered in. The proposed regulations will apply to the other
11 FEMA- and/or City -designated floodplains.
The impact of the regulations on affordable housing would be that no
residential structures, including mobile home parks, will be allowed in
floodways; existing mobile home parks will be grandfathered into fringe
areas, but no new ones will be permitted. Additionally, new development in
the fringe areas will be required to be elevated, which will add to the cost.
However, as Storm Water projects are completed, areas will be removed
from floodplains, and the regulations will no longer apply. Local and FEMA
maps are updated simultaneously as projects are completed; owners of
affected properties are informed by letter.
Mr. Smith asked the Board to review the materials to see if they make sense
and if they agree with the approach.
Bob Smith will come back to the Board in August to answer questions
and gather comments to take to City Council.
I-25 Subarea Plan
Ken Waido outlined the I-25 Subarea Plan, which has been in development
since October 1999 and is set for consideration by City Council at its August
19 regular meeting. It deals i-i detail with land uses on either side of the
interstate; it is different than the regional I-25 Corridor Plan, which is
focused on developing design standards, transportation, and open lands and
natural areas policies, and does not provide direction on land uses. The I-25
Subarea extends from the Prospect Road interchange to County Road 52 on
the north and County Road 5 on the east. (Areas west of I-25 are most
developed and/or covered by other subareas plans.)
The I-25 Subarea Plan includes a mix of industrial, residential and
commercial uses, including retail and highway -oriented commercial. With the
exception of one-half mile on either side of Mulberry Street east of I-25,
which will be zoned low -density, mixed -use neighborhood (LMN), all
residential uses are to be urban estate (UE) developments with a maximum
density of two dwelling units per acre.
The Board felt it was important to plan for development in this area, but that
UE zoning was not appropriate adjacent to industrial and commercial uses
that will generate demand for more affordable housing options. There was
also concern that the UE zoning did not support efficient use of transit
options.
To date, the current plan has been endorsed by the Planning and Zoning
Board and opposed by the Transportation and Air Quality Advisory boards.
Concerns center on encouraging growth without adequate provisions for
increased transportation demands and the subsequent possibility of
deteriorating air quality.
Kay Rios and Denise Rogers will update the letter sent by the Board
to City Council in August 2002 opposing the proposed UE zoning
while supporting the importance of having a plan in place in this
area. The letter will be presented at the next Board meeting, in
advance of the City Council meeting.
Old Business
Sales Tax Revenue/Reduction of Affordable Housina Fundin
Ken Waido reported that budget -cutting continues, and everything is on the
table, including the Affordable Housing Fund and personnel reductions. Staff
is considering charging the Community Development Block Grant program for
miscellaneous administrative services; federal regulations allow up to 20
percent of the fund to be spent on administration but the City has been using
only about 13 percent for direct administration. The result would be less
funding available for CDBG projects.
City Council will schedule public hearings in September.
City Plan Update
Ken Waido reported on the City Plan Update process, which has progressed
to development of Principles and Policies. The Growth Management Area is to
be kept at current boundaries, with expansions for the Fossil Creek Subarea
around the Windsor interchange of I-25 and the CSU Foothills Campus, which
could be employing 3,000-4,000 people in a few years.
Cathy Miller of CARE Housing Inc. asked if such a policy ignores the lessons
of Berthoud's and Boulder's experience with growth caps. Ken explained that
Boulder created a serious job/housing imbalance by restricting residential but
not job growth. While Fort Collins has roughly 1.4 jobs for every dwelling unit
in the city, Boulder's ratio is 3.2 jobs/unit, which means many Boulder
workers don't live in the city.
Infill development is also a major issue for the Citizens Advisory Committee,
and will be addressed in upcoming meetings. Ken will bring the final City Plan
documents to the October Affordable Housing Board meeting for review and
comments to City Council.
Kay Rios urged the Affordable Housing Board to make its own
recommendations 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.
Update/Reports on Subcommittee Efforts
None.
Liaison Reports
None.
Other Busin
Letter from David Danforth re: Harmony Park
Maurice Head reported that the City is consulting with a bond attorney to
determine whether the proposed plan to form a cooperative to allow
residents of Harmony Manufactured Home Community to purchase the park
would be a qualifying activity for a Private Activity Bond. The purchase would
be of land and improvements only; in general, residents own their homes
and rent the land from the current owner, Affordable Residential
Communities.
If the residents decide to go forward with the PAB application, Mr. Danforth
would like a recommendation from the Board.
Next meetino
August 7, 2003, 4 p.m., 281 N. College Ave.
Meeting adjourned 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Kate Jeracki
July 24, 2003
Apprpy-p,d unanimously by AHB members on July 10, 2003.
X!y' WG
os, Ch it f Ken Waido, Staff Liaison