AGENDA #3a(4)
1829 E. Franklin St. #1200B • Chapel Hill, NC 27514 • (919)932.7077, FAX (919)932.7079 • [email protected]
February 7, 2007
Mayor Kevin Foy and Members of the Chapel Hill Town Council
405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Dear Mayor Foy and Members of the Town Council:
Habitat for Humanity, Orange County requests that the Town of Chapel Hill grant expedited review for the Purefoy Drive subdivision, a new affordable housing development that Habitat for Humanity is proposing off of Purefoy Drive in the Chapel Hill planning jurisdiction. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County has submitted a development application for the Purefoy Drive subdivision that proposes 51 single family lots on approximately 20 acres. All of the homes in the subdivision will be affordable for at least 99 years to households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income (AMI). To achieve a greater degree of economic diversity within the subdivision, Habitat hopes to partner with other local affordable housing providers to create home ownership opportunitites for those earning between 60% and 80% of the AMI, as Habitat serves households earning 60% or below the AMI.
The granting of expedited review for Habitat’s proposed subdivision is in keeping with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Section 7.2 of the Comprehensive Plan states the Town’s goal is to “increase the availability of well-designed, affordable, safe and sanitary housing for all citizens of Chapel Hill.” Section 7A further says, “Government at every level should work to increase affordable housing opportunities.” One strategy, as presented in 7A-1, is to “work with housing providers to aggressively develop affordable housing in Chapel Hill.” Habitat for Humanity has worked in partnership with local government throughout its history to expand affordable housing opportunities for residents who most need them. Expedited review for this affordable housing project will enable Habitat to develop as many as 50 new units of affordable housing, which in turn will allow residents currently living in substandard housing conditions to move out of unsafe, overcrowded, and /or unaffordable situations. It was also allow the new homeowners to live in Chapel Hill, in close proximity to their employment, to shopping, to health services, and to excellent schools.
With expedited review for the Purefoy Drive subdivision, Habitat for Humanity will be able to respond in a timely way to the ever increasing demand for affordable housing in Chapel Hill, particularly for those households who earn less than 60% of the AMI. Habitat for Humanity currently has no completed building lots in Chapel Hill, although we have a very high demand among prospective homeowners for homes located in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district. If we are granted expedited review, Habitat for Humanity expects to start construction on homes on Purefoy Drive in September 2008.
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity, thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request for expedited review. We look forward to continuing to work in creative partnership with the Town to better meet the housing needs of all of Chapel Hill’s citizens.
Sincerely,
Susan Levy, Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity, Orange County
Cc: Roger Stancil, Town Manager
Judy Johnson, Planning Department