Housing Task Force

Housing Task Force Meeting #19 Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024 @7:00 pm Location: Village of Port Chester Conference Room Attendees: Margaret Adamson, Arley Arno, Monica Fonseca, Jane Lippman, Kathy Pandekakes, Catrina Shivers, Aldo Vitagliano, Andrew Weiss, Ursula Winchell, Luis Yumbla Absent: Chester Edwards, Lisa Cordasco The meeting opened at 7:10 p.m. Motion to approve minutes from September 12th and September 26th 2024 meeting was tabled until next meeting. Topics: Quorum check, agenda review, village consultation, RFQ process, affordable housing, local preference, MOU acceptance, developer workshop, housing needs report, accessory dwelling units, overlay district, tax-delinquent properties, infrastructure impact, meeting scheduling, task force recommendations Summary The meeting focused on the Village's request for a consultant to help with affordable housing initiatives. The Village is hesitant due to unclear objectives, but a proposal from Greg Cutler to craft an ordinance for preferences was seen positively. The Task Force discussed the potential for an RFQ to gather expertise without initial costs. They also considered an MOU with the Housing Action Council for free services, including a two-hour workshop and development performance guidance. The group debated the merits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the need for local preferences. They also discussed the impact of new housing on infrastructure and the importance of maintaining quality in affordable units. Action items • Authorize the chairman to sign the MOU with the Housing Action Council. • Communicate with the Housing Action Council to schedule the 2-hour workshop and determine if any village authorization is needed. • The Task Force will need to decide on the timing and location of the workshop, whether it will be held in-person with a virtual option, or fully virtual. • Follow up with Tiffany Zezula and Rose Noonan to see if they want Tim Foley, from the Building Institute, to participate as the developer in the workshop.  Discussions Explore the Task Force's role in providing recommendations to the village, including on topics like local housing preferences, accessory dwelling units, and potential overlay districts to enhance affordable housing. Coordinate the logistics and content of an upcoming two-hour workshop led by the Housing Action Council to educate the Task Force and help guide their recommendations to the village. Identify next steps for the Task Force, including communicating with the Housing Action Council, and following up on Village authorization. The overall focus is on the Task Force leveraging external expertise and resources to develop well-informed recommendations for the Village to increase affordable housing in Port Chester. Understanding the feasibility and implementation of local housing preferences, including Greg Cutler's work on verifying the legality with HUD. The Village's moratorium on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the Task Force's interest in weighing in on the issue and potential benefits of ADUs. Exploring the use of overlay districts as a tool to enhance affordable housing development. Concerns about the impact of new housing on infrastructure and the need to ensure quality and equitable design of affordable units. Logistics and content of the upcoming two-hour workshop with the Housing Action Council, including potential participation from a developer representative. Coordination between the Task Force and the Village to ensure alignment and any necessary authorizations for the Task Force's work with the Housing Action Council. The Village's housing needs report and the Task Force's desire to provide more detailed recommendations to further the Village's mission. Concerns about the potential strain on infrastructure (water, sewer, etc.) from new housing developments, and the need to ensure the village's capacity can support additional growth. The uniformity and quality of design in recent affordable housing projects, with a recognition that the interiors and amenities of affordable units should not be "dumbed down" compared to market-rate units. Exploring tax-delinquent properties as a potential source for affordable housing, though the legal and financial challenges were acknowledged. The impact of declining school enrollment on the feasibility and perception of new housing developments. The Task Force's desire to change the perception of affordable housing by highlighting the quality of recent projects, like the Magellan building. The scheduling of future Task Force meetings, including the need to accommodate the two-hour workshop with the Housing Action Council and avoid conflicts with the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are the key highlights from the meeting discussion: • The Task Force plans to work with the Housing Action Council to provide expertise and guidance at no cost, rather than hiring a consultant as the village had initially suggested. • The Housing Action Council's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) offers valuable services, including research on local housing preferences, a two-hour workshop, and guidance on affordable housing development. • The Task Force is focused on understanding the feasibility of implementing local housing preferences, with Greg Cutler's work to verify the legality with HUD. • The Village's moratorium on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) is an area of interest for the Task Force, who see potential benefits in ADUs if properly regulated. • The Task Force is exploring the use of overlay districts as a tool to enhance affordable housing development, rather than relying solely on zoning changes. • Ensuring the quality and equitable design of affordable housing units is a priority, to avoid "dumbing down" the interiors and amenities compared to market-rate units. • The Task Force is coordinating with the Housing Action Council to schedule a two-hour workshop, potentially involving a developer representative, to further educate and guide the task force's recommendations. • The Task Force is considering the broader impacts of new housing, such as infrastructure capacity and declining school enrollment, in their discussions. Discussed having only one meeting in November and December due to the holiday seasons. Meeting closed at 8:05pm. Next Meeting is Thursday, October 24, 2024 7pm at the Village Conference Room 222 Grace Church St. Port Chester, NY. Tim Foley from the Buildings and Realty Institute (BRI) is the guest speaker.