10/11/2022 - Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Affordable Housing Advisory Meeting Minutes October 11, 2022
Committee
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Affordable Housing Advisory Meeting Minutes October 11, 2022
Committee
Roll Call
Present:10 - Chair Camille Hebting, Committee Member Kevin Chinault, Committee
Member Carmen Santiago, Committee Member Gaby Camacho,
Committee Member Pierre Cournoyer, Committee Member Kathleen
Beckman, Committee Member Peter Scalia, Committee Member
Jacqueline Rivera, Committee Member Robyn Fiel and Committee
Member Bruce Rector
Absent: 1 - Committee Member Lindsay Dicus-Harrison
Also Present - Denise Sanderson — Economic Development & Housing Director, Gina
Clayton — Planning & Development Director, Chuck Lane — Economic
Development & Housing Assistant Director, Terry Malcolm-Smith —
Senior Housing Coordinator, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the September 13, 2022, AHAC Meeting Minutes.
Member Santiago moved to approve minutes of the September 13, 2022
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meeting as submitted in
written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. New Business
3.1 Second Discussion of Housing Incentive Programs - Amanda Warner, Wade Trim
Consultant
Second Discussion of Housing Incentive Programs - Amanda Warner, Wade
Trim Consultant
Economic Development and Housing Assistant Director Chuck Lane said
staff inventories City-owned properties every 3 years and determines which
are appropriate for affordable housing development, properties on N. Martin
Luther King Jr. Avenue designated for commercial development are not on
the list. Affordable housing developments having more than 35 units/acre
require expensive parking structures.
Mr. Lane said NAHAB (Neighborhood &Affordable Housing Advisory Board)
makes recommendations to City Council while AHAC (Affordable Housing
Advisory Committee) serves a statutory function, combining the boards
would be a City Council decision. NAHAB can discuss the suggestion.
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City of Clearwater
Affordable Housing Advisory Meeting Minutes October 11, 2022
Committee
Discussion ensued re updates to improve LHIS strategies. Concern was
expressed the Pinellas Housing Compact has lofty goals but no
measurables.
Committee recommendations: 1) City determine if it values the societal
benefits of mixed-income housing, 2) improve communications to inform
public re NAHAB and AHAC meetings, 3) schedule evening meetings to
encourage resident participation, 4) educate residents re affordable housing,-
5)
ousing,5) engage community support and encourage civic engagement to contact
the legislature re affordable housing; 6) track affordable housing project
development in the City on its website to celebrate accomplishments; 7)
record affordable housing webinars and store at the library to share, 8)
provide incentives to incorporate affordable housing into all housing
developments, 9) the City will strive to complete the permit process for
affordable housing in 4 days, 10) assign each affordable housing developer
an advocate to move through the process, 11) schedule an annual forum on
affordable housing for residents, 12) publish an affordable housing brochure
and update annually, 13) request donation of affordable housing building
plans to share, 14) modify the report to replace "shall" with "will", 15)
establish a goal for affordable housing impact fees to remain on par or below
Pinellas County and local municipalities, 16) make affordable housing
development in Clearwater competitive with local governments, 17) consider
changing zoning designations to provide flexibility for alternative housing
units in single-family residence neighborhoods, 18) provide incentives for
group homes, 19) consider adopting Florida Housing Coalition best
practices; 20) add a public link to list of enclave unincorporated properties
within City limits that are appropriate for affordable housing development but
do not qualify for City incentives, 21) continue updating the LHIS (Local
Housing Incentive Strategies) with technical updates such as EV charging
stations, 22) provide incentives for safety measures at affordable housing
developments, 23) work toward GreenPrint goals to lower utility costs for
lower-income residents, 24) work with Pinellas County and major local
municipalities with sufficient land to build 1,500 affordable units as
Clearwater has little or no empty space, and 25) consistently update the
down payment assistance loan policy.
Mr. Lane said residents can submit comments to be read at NAHAB and
AHAC meetings.
Wade Trim Consultant Amanda Warner said the AHAC will be requested to
approve the updated LHIS report. Future public comments will be
incorporated in the report before it is brought forward to the City Council.
In response to questions, staff said they had recommended developers
presubmit model building plans for affordable single-family residences to
expedite the permitting process. It is difficult to compare Clearwater's impact
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City of Clearwater
Affordable Housing Advisory
Committee
Meeting Minutes October 11, 2022
fees with other communities. Staff will research building plans sold by
groups to determine if they meet Florida building codes. The City provides a
safety net for affordable housing developers so the Return on Investment is
at least 12%. ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and co -housing will be
discussed during the Comp Plan review which will be completed in late
2023. ADUs currently are permitted in nonresidential zoning for caretakers at
commercial properties. Co -housing is problematic due to sprinkler
requirements and the need for monitors to deal with resident confrontations.
The affordable -housing bonus that allows increased density could limit green
space and play areas at the homes. The City might be able to pay for home
inspections for down payment recipients earlier in the process to be
reimbursed at closing.
4. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the agenda
The Board Reporter read into the record Al Hajj Muhammad Abdur-Rahim's
letter (page 5) recommending the Committee direct the City Council to
permit affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts
and to allocate funds to assist homebuyers, renters, and homeowners with
assistance for down payments, rental costs, owner -occupied rehabilitation,
and energy efficiency.
5. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m.
Chair, Afforda
City of Clearwater
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ng Advisory Committee
Lane, Charles
From: Muhammad Abdur-Rahim <mabdurrahim5@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 12:59 PM
To: Lane, Charles
Cc: Call, Rosemarie
Subject: Citizens input
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hi Charles, Chuck.
Please find a email to the Affordable Housing Board
Hello,
Thank you for your important work to define recommendations for addressing our housing crisis. Your work is important every year, but
even more so this year given the huge lack of housing that even people with average means can afford due to skyrocketing rents, home
purchase costs, and utility bills.
In your upcoming meeting, please discuss and then provide clear new actions that the city can take in the following areas:
1. Allow affordable accessory residential units in RESIDENTIAL zoning districts. This can greatly increase the supply of affordable units in
Clearwater, and would be a great complement to existing strategies of building new affordable housing that the city owns. St
Petersburg has done this already, and could provide a model for Clearwater.
2. Ensure funding is allocated to assist home buyers, renters, and existing home owners:
- Down payment assistance
- Rent assistance (security deposit, utility deposit, 3 month's rent to prevent homelessness)
- Owner Occupied Rehabilitation assistance
- Energy efficiency assistance
Please take action now in these areas. You have tremendous responsibility to provide direction to the Clearwater City Council, that can
have a huge impact in our community.
Thank you.
Peace be upon you.
Al Hajj Muhammad Abdur-Rahim
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