Housing Commission

MINUTES HOUSING COMMISSION PURPOSE OF MEETING: The five-member Commission is appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. The Housing Commission maintains awareness of housing needs and opportunities, including affordable housing; proposes housing policy initiatives and changes; investigates fair housing complaints and conciliates these complaints; mediates conflicts relating to the Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act and offers reconciliatory services in conflicts relating to other housing laws. DATE OF MEETING: February 10, 2015 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: ___Julio Idrobo AT ____6:00 PM____ THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Chair ___x____ Dana Lewis: ______ ______ Tori McKinney Vice Chair ___X____ Kevin Denton: _____X____ Don Brobst ___ X____ Nancy Vincent:___________ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Council Liaison FCHC Liaison Mary Beth Connelly – Council Liaison __ Thomas Vaccaro ____X_ ______ Visitors FCPS Student Representative Laura Hicks Camille Borga ______ Kathleen Louisa TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Approval of Minutes: The minutes for January 13 were approved. Affordable Dwelling Unit Proffer Language – Staff Denton • City staff is creating boilerplate language for future development with proffers. • Language mirrors existing affordable development language from approved affordable Housing Policy (2013.) This includes 6% of ADU’s with incomes between 50 to 80 per cent of the Area Median Income. • There will be a focus on new affordable unit development. • All numbers get rounded up (12.4 units --> 13 units). • Are there cash in lieu opportunities? Is purchasing offsite affordable housing an option? What is the guidance for cash like or offsite purchases? There are opportunities and threats as others are looking to benefit from the proffers that have traditionally benefited housing/schools only. It seems that affordable housing is up against affordable retail as priorities. • Persons in the schools community don't want larger units. • The draft plan will be shared at the March meeting. Status of Housing Commission Members – Julio Idrobo Tommy Goodwin has been appointed and sworn in. Don Brobst has been reappointed but needs to be sworn in. Sprague Liaison Reports – All Commissioners and FCHC Tommy Goodwin – There is nothing to report. Tori McKinney – There is a very busy local real estate market that rivals the 2001-2003 market SomwReasons: low interest rates, heavy season, local demand. The pricing is less expensive than North Arlington (closer to DC), but more expensive than other surrounding communities Marybeth Connelly – There will be a new Mason Row submission this week (340 apartments, no condos, first-floor retail, movie theatre, 8,000 foot office building). They are considering moving whole library into the new complex. There is no new information on the recent Hitt land purchase. Commission members wanted to know how to connect with Todd Hitt? M.T. Gutmanis – At Merrill House there are problems with utilities (heating). She would like to connect them to Kevin to help with billing problems to see if there are any ideas to prevent problems like these going forward. Don Brobst – There are challenges in the City with construction starting at 7:00 am. Thom Vaccaro - There are 87 members of the Falls Church Housing Corporation and they are considering an event in the community center. Guest - At the Broad Falls apartments they are changing policies. These include: higher rates, the paying of utilities, pet rent, etc. all driven by new management. How does the City and the housing commission engage the new management? How do they documenting and report problems? What can the City do to prevent low and middle income citizens from getting priced out of the community? There are currently no ADU units in the complex or available. Development is increasing the cost of living in Falls Church Protecting affordability – Kevin Denton HHS staff is meeting with City staff to discuss affordability points. The tax abatement map will be presented at the next meeting (state vs. local abatements). The City Manager has asked for a meeting to discuss affordability of the Mason Row project. Housing update - Kevin Denton Dana Lewis is working on the consolidated plan. There is a housing commission recommendation needed on the Mason Row Development. Kevin Denton is now taking on a part-time role with the city. Dana Lewis will be returning to the staff liaison role starting with the next meeting. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: ______8:16 PM_____________________ SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: _____Tommy Goodwin_______________ The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703 248-5005, (TTY 711).