Housing Commission

MINUTES HOUSING COMMISSION City of Falls Church 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: May 16, 2019 PLACE OF MEETING: Winter Hill Apartments – Community Room MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Brenda Heffernan at 6:30pm THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Brenda Heffernan, Chair _ X__ Dana Lewis _X_ Jordan Hicks, Vice Chair _X_ Alex McMillen _ _ M.T. Gutmanis __x _ Nancy Vincent Joshua Shokoor __X__ Planning Commission Liaison Peter Davis __ __ Lindy Hockenberry X__ FCHC Liaison Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro____ Katherine O’Neil _ __ Council Liaison Kaylee Stillwagoner _X_ Letty Hardi _ X__ Minutes approved from the April 9, 2019 meeting Homestretch Visit Debrief It was great presentation and a productive visit. The Executive Director, Christopher Fay was impressive. Steve Sprague Affordable Housing Champion Award – This was a great event and we should start thinking about who to honor next year. Julio Idrobo, the honoree was very pleased with the event. The time of year seemed good. VHDA Community Impact Grant application - Staff Lewis shared that the City will be applying to VHDA for grant in the amount of $20,000 to look at an accessory dwelling zoning rewrite and other projects. The Commission thought this was a good idea and is in support. Update West Falls Church Economic Development Project Voluntary Concessions – Staff Lewis shared that HHSs submitted their voluntary concession and a formula for cash request was shared with the developer. Presentation on Comprehensive Plan Chapters – Housing and Natural Resources – Paul Stoddard from the Planning Department gave the presentation. During the presentations the following feedback was requested: 1. Are the draft vision statement and strategies compelling and responsive to community needs? 2. Do additional housing elements or issues need to be included? 3. What are the Council’s strategy and action priorities? 4. What types of housing should make up the future housing stock in the City? 5. What policies do we need to put in place to get there? 6. What resources could the City contribute? Meeting ended at 9:00 pm