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: September 10, 2019 PLACE OF MEETING: Oak Room – City Hall 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 __ _ Nancy Vincent ___ Joshua Shokoor __X__ Planning Commission Liaison Peter Davis __X __ FCHC Liaison Student Liaison Thom Vaccaro____ Kaylee Stillwagoner _ _ Council Liaison Guest Letty Hardi _ X__ Phil Duncan _x__ Minutes approved from the July 9, 2019 meeting. Proceedings: Meeting called to order by Chair Heffernan at 6:35 PM Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter – The Housing and Demographic chapters have been adopted. Staff is working on a housing plan to get all of the strategies and actions addressed. Housing Commission Bi-annual Report – Chair Heffernan will compose a draft and Commissioner Shokoor will present when it goes to council. VHDA Housing Preservation Grant – The City has received the grant and it will include a zoning rewrite and an update to the Housing Preservation Plan that was last developed in 2008. At that time it looked at four properties in the City. Arlington will be advised when doing research for the zoning rewrite. The city has hired a consultant Susan Bell to do the work. She will be invited to attend the next meeting. The Fields Update – The Commission talked about possibilities with the Fields apartments including: • Not charging taxes for the owners if it stays affordable • Improve the land and improve the water issues • Build condos • Conduct a minor rehab on the property • Develop a mixed use property • Tear down the current structure and build a more modern building that still includes 96 units. • Create an environmental zone whereby a large scale development might not conform because of water issues in the surrounding community. CDBG and HOME FY 2021 Proposed changes – Chair Heffernan excused herself explaining that she works for Arlington County and it may be a conflict. Commissioner Shokoor also left the room as there was discussion about one of the grantees that he is affiliated with (NHP/FCHC). The group discussed the possibility of the City becoming a part of Fairfax’s entitlement area as opposed to the current arrangement which is with Arlington County. Pros and cons of each were discussed. The Commission seemed to be in favor of the Fairfax possibility as it would allow for partnership with additional housing resources such as the housing authority. In addition there may or may not be a possibility of additional funds coming to one of the grantees. Other – Commissioner Gutmanis has shared that she will be leaving when her term expires in December so the Commission should begin recruiting possible members. The group talked about the benefits of having different viewpoints and representation in the group. American Legion – A letter was received from the American Legion should it be published? The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.