COUNCIL GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

HIGHEST Priority

Continued          3.   Comprehensive Plan Affordable Housing Goals re:

a. Enact Affordable Housing Funding Source

b. Develop an Affordable Housing Incentive Program

c. Fund Affordable Housing Development

d. Pursue Inclusionary Zoning

Description:  Consider an Inclusionary Zoning ordinance

For prior reports refer to past Quarterly Reports on Council Goals.

February 28, 2005 Status: Revised Goal.

May 9, 2005 Status:  On April 27, 2005, the Council held a work session on the Comprehensive Plan Housing Strategies.  The Council decided to initiate a process to consider drafting an inclusionary zoning ordinance, and established a Council Committee to draft a proposal.  The Council also decided to appoint a citizen’s committee to review the draft.

September 12, 2005 Status:  On June 27, 2005, we reported to the Council with a proposed work plan for affordable housing initiatives.  The Council adopted resolutions to: (1) establish a process and schedule for developing an inclusionary zoning ordinance; and (2) call a public hearing for September 26, 2005 to consider amending the Town’s Comprehensive Plan to include additional language for the payment-in-lieu option.  On tonight’s agenda, there is an item asking that the Council adopt a charge for an Inclusionary Zoning Task Force. 

November 21, 2005 Status:  On September 21, 2005, the Council adopted a charge for an Inclusionary Zoning Task Force. To date, the Council has appointed 15 members to the Committee. We expect the Committee to hold its first meeting before the end of this year. On October 10, 2005, the Council adopted a resolution to amend the Comprehensive Plan better define the payment-in-lieu option. The Comprehensive Plan now states that payment-in-lieu fees are calculated as follows: “where the amount of the payment shall be calculated by multiplying the number of affordable housing units to be provided as calculated in option 1 (without dropping fractions) by an estimate of funding that would be needed to make a homeownership opportunity in the proposed development available to individuals and families with annual income at or below 80 percent of the area median income”.

February 13, 2006 Status:  The Inclusionary Zoning Task Force continues to meet. There are currently 22 members on the Task Force.  The Task Force expects to complete its work in March 2006, forward a recommendation to the Planning Board for review in June 2006, and recommend that the Council schedule a public hearing in September 2006 to consider a proposed ordinance.

May 8, 2006 Status: The Inclusionary Zoning Task Force continues to meet to discuss the potential components of an Inclusionary Zoning ordinance.  The Task Force expects to forward a recommendation to the Planning Board for review in June 2006. 

Product to be Produced and Timetable

· Complete the work of the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force in Spring 2006,

· Planning Board review proposals in Summer 2006,

· Schedule a public hearing as early as September 2006 to consider a proposed ordinance.

September 11, 2006 Status: The Inclusionary Zoning Task Force continues to meet to discuss the potential components of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. The Task Force met regularly over the summer and expects to forward a recommendation to the Planning Board for review in the fall.