Housing Task Force

Housing Task Force Meeting #17 Thursday, September 12, 2024 7pm Village of Port Chester Conference Room Attendees: Margaret Adamson, Arley Arno, Chester Edwards, Monica Fonseca, Jane Lippman, Kathy Pandekakes, Catrina Shivers, Ursula Winchell. Absent: Lisa Cordasco, Aldo Vitagliano, Andrew Weiss, Luis Yumbla Guest Speakers: Rose Noonan: Director of the Housing Action Council Village of Port Chester Tiffany Zezula: Pace Land Use Law Center Rebecca Senn: Co-Director of The Housing Action Council The meeting began at 7:05pm. Motion was passed to approve the August 8, 2024 minutes. Discussion: The meeting involved discussions about the Housing Action Council's role in addressing the housing crisis in Westchester County, the challenges of implementing housing preferences while complying with fair housing laws, and the funding sources and requirements for affordable housing in Westchester County. The Task Force also discussed strategies to improve housing in Port Chester, the need for a consultant to assist with affordable housing initiatives, and the potential use of interns from the Pace Law Center for free assistance. Housing Action Council and Land Use Law Center Collaboration Chairperson Edwards led the meeting, and Rose Noonan discussed the organization's role in addressing the housing crisis in Westchester County and their expansion into new projects. Rebecca Senn, a co-executive director, was introduced, having previously worked with the New York Mortgage Coalition. Tiffany Zezula highlighted the Land Use Law Center's long-standing relationship with the Housing Action Council and their training programs for housing advocates. Lastly, Rose Noonan discussed the funding for their technical assistance program, which includes financial support from Westchester County and fees from for-profit developers. Housing Action Council's Community Assistance and Training Rose Noonan discussed the Housing Action Council's role in assisting communities with their housing needs, using the example of their work with the Hastings on Hudson Housing Development Committee. She highlighted the importance of understanding the housing needs of employees in the community and the organization's training programs, including a 3-day land use leadership training and a housing advocate program. Rose Noonan also mentioned the organization's ability to assess potential housing developments and work with nonprofits, houses of worship, and committees to evaluate sites and create financial pro formas for potential projects. The conversation ended with the group agreeing on the need for legal technical assistance to navigate issues without violating any laws. Housing Preferences and Fair Housing Compliance The group discussed implementing housing preferences while complying with Fair Housing laws, which considers potential discrimination against protected classes and funding restrictions. Rose Noonan suggests legal review before implementing neighborhood preferences. The group explored racially neutral categories like workforce housing, though Rose Noonan noted potential scrutiny regarding selected demographics. It may be feasible to preference a broader category, like Port Chester residents, to aid achieving Fair Housing compliance. Affordable Housing Funding and Technical Assistance The team discussed the funding sources and requirements for affordable housing in their area. They noted that the City of New Rochelle has a preference system for developments, but it doesn't necessarily involve county or state funding. The team also discussed the challenges of administering different tiers of preferences for affordable housing. They mentioned a technical assistance program funded by the County, which they use to provide assistance to municipalities. However, the funding is not enough to cover all their needs, so they also receive funds from foundations, banks, and other organizations. The team also discussed the possibility of combining County funds with Village funds to deliver specific types of technical assistance. Exploring Affordable Housing in Densely Populated Areas The group discussed the challenges of finding affordable housing in Port Chester, which is a densely populated area with limited vacant land. They considered the possibility of converting existing housing stock into affordable units, but acknowledged the potential issue of displacement. Rose Noonan shared an example of a local corporation, Blue Mountain Housing Development Corp, which is purchasing a 12-unit building with the help of County funding to preserve it as affordable housing in perpetuity. All agreed that exploring the existing housing stock is a viable option to increase affordable housing. Tiffany Zezula suggested accessory dwelling units (ADU) as a potential source of affordable housing options. Affordable Housing Initiatives and Consultant Assistance The discussion focused on the need for a consultant to assist with affordable housing initiatives and legalities. The team agreed to consider involving external experts and compiling a funding sources list. They discussed the project's scope focusing on housing needs and zoning, acknowledging lack of funds. The Board of Trustees did not allocate funding for a paid consultant, they suggested utilizing free help from interns at the Pace Law Center. Rose Noonan proposed technical assistance, including analysis and recommendations on housing stock. The Task Force expressed confidence in Rose Noonan’s expertise and recommended moving forward with her team's assistance. Next steps Rose Noonan and Tiffany Zezula to draft a scope of work for technical assistance to the Port Chester Housing Task Force. Tiffany Zezula to compile and share a list of potential funding sources for housing studies/ plans and examples of housing studies and implementation plans from other villages (e.g. Ossining, Croton) with the committee. Chester Edwards to send the Housing Action Council the official resolution establishing the Task Force and description of their assigned tasks, the Village's 2019 housing needs assessment and to follow up with Greg Cutler regarding the status of the request for consultant funding from the village board. Next Meeting: Thursday, September 12, 2024 7pm at the Village Hall Conference Room 222 Grace Church St. Port Chester NY.