Agenda #4k | Status Report on the Development of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

AGENDA #4k

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

FROM:	J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director
	Loryn Clark, Housing and Neighborhood Services Coordinator

SUBJECT:	Status Report on the Development of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

DATE:	June 27, 2007

PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Council on the development of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance.

The attached resolution would revise the schedule for developing an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance.

BACKGROUND

On November 20, 2006, the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force presented a draft ordinance to the Council. Important elements of the document include:

Comprehensive strategies for achieving affordable housing in developments involving five or more new housing units;
Allowance of density credits to offset costs;
Continued insistence on permanent affordability;
Expansion of mechanisms to ensure permanent affordability to include more than the land trust model; and
Service to households below (and up to) 80 percent of the area median income.

On January 22, 2007, the Council adopted a resolution to establish a process for developing an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. At that time, the Council also adopted an ordinance to allocate up to $25,000 to hire a consultant to prepare a draft Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. The Council also adopted a process that included a public hearing on May 14, 2007.

DISCUSSION

As authorized by the Council, the Town entered into a Performance Agreement with White and Smith, LLC to develop an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance consistent with the elements proposed by the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force.

On May 7, and June 11, 2007, we reported that we were working with the consultant to clarify issues raised in the Task Force report. We have received a draft ordinance from the consultant and are in communication with Mr. Mark White to finalize a draft. We do not believe that we will have adequate time to review the draft with the Planning Board and Inclusionary Zoning Task Force in time for a public hearing before the Council break.

We recommend that we meet with the members of the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force and the consultant (by telephone) in June. We believe that this would allow the members of the Task Force the opportunity to discuss their concerns directly with the consultant. We also propose to review the ordinance with the Planning Board on August 7, 2007, and recommend that the Council schedule a public hearing for September 17, 2007.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council revise the schedule to review a draft ordinance with the Planning Board on August 7, 2007, and schedule a Public Hearing for September 17, 2007. We also propose to review the draft ordinance with the members of the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force prior to the Planning Board meeting.