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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes_HOUAB_12.12.2021City of Georgetown, Texas Housing Advisory Board Minutes December 12, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. 809 Martin Luther King Jr. Street Board Members present: Wendy Cash; Charles Collins, Nikki Brennan, Linda Sloan, Regina Watson, Grayson Smith and Eric Marin Board Member(s) absent: N/A Staff present in -person: Sofia Nelson, Planning Director and Stephanie McNickle, Planning Specialist The Meeting was,opened by Chair Wendy Cash at 3:31 p.m. Public Wishing to Address the Board A. As of the deadline, no persons were signed up to speak on items other than those posted on the agenda. Legislative Regular Agenda B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the October 25, 2021 regular meeting of the Housing Advisory Board. - Stephanie McNickle, Planning Specialist Motion by Board member Brennan to approve the minutes from the September 27, 2021, Housing Advisory Board meeting. Second by Board member Marin. Approved. (7-0) C Presentation on the use of CDBG funds to advance 2030 Housing Policies. Sofia Nelson Ms. Nelson gave a brief review of the current housing programs that include Home Repair Program, Community Development Block Grant Funding, Workforce Housing Development and Neighborhood Association support. Sofia stated from a Community Development Block Grant Funding Overview • Entitlement communities receive direct federal funding • Non -entitlement communities can be sub -recipients • CoG is subrecipient of Williamson County • Annual application for funding • Eligible projects must be in Low to Moderate Income (LMI) areas • At least 47% of households have incomes at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI) Ms. Nelson stated the active funding for Home Repair for 2021 was $100K, $97K for wastewater line for 21st street Habitat development in 2020 and 75K Home Repair in 2020 Ms. Nelson stated the Home Repair Program total funding was $170K this year. $100K - CDBG funds from Williamson County $70K - City of Georgetown Housing Advisory Board Page 1 Minutes December 13, 2021 • 40K General Funds $15K Conservation - Energy $15K Conservation - Water Sofia stated from a Workforce Housing Development we were able to use the Workforce Standards two times within the city. The purpose was to encourage affordable housing for the workforce, the code allows flexibility to the development standards and allowable housing types for projects that foster housing affordability. We were able to reduce lot sizes and setbacks along with building height, units per building and impervious cover. It was stated the Area Median Income for 2021 in Williamson County is $98,900.00 The Workforce Housing Agreement - In exchange for alternative development standards, the applicant will reserve at least 10% units at 80% AMI for 10 years. • Owners provides quarterly reports to City • Marketing of units • Financial guarantee of performance Sofia gave a brief overview on Neighborhood Associations. Sofia stated the office notifies adjacent property owners of land use changes and rezones. We assist with distinguishing the difference between a Neighborhood Association and a Homeowners Association. Assist neighborhoods without an association in forming one. Board member stated she believes that by June 1st all HOA's must be registered through the Texas Real Estate Commission. Board member asked about the role of the Housing Advisory Board regarding the CDBG funding and'staff stated that how the bylaws are written, the Housing Advisory Board does not make recommendations, but staff feels it's important to keep the Board informed. D Discussion on education related to innovations in housing. Sofia Nelson, Planning Director Board member Smith discussed the challenges of building in the City. He stated he feels it is very time consuming and the cost is high. He feels there is a disconnect between Council and P&Z. An application may be approved at P&Z, but then denied at City Council. He is surprised the city does not have more flexibility for Single-family zoned lots. He stated in Austin and even in Liberty Hill there are small lot zoning that is 3500 square feet, but in Georgetown the smallest lot size allowed is 5500 square feet. Board member Smith stated even in the downtown area, there are deep lots and since you cannot have a flag lot, you have all this useless land behind these homes. Board Member Smith stated there are things that could go along way by adding more eclectic housing in the downtown area. Board member Smith feels there is sometimes a "one size" fits all or a "David and Goliath" mentality when developing. Board member Smith stated City department seems like they do not communicate with one another and have their own way of looking at things regarding development. There was additional discussion on large narrow lots in the downtown area. Sofia Nelson stated these are important conversations and should be kept as a standing item, which will prep us for when the Unified Development Code diagnostics starts. The Board asked and Sofia stated the UDC diagnostic will start in 2022. Housing Advisory Board Page 2 Minutes December 13, 2021 E Update on TRG and San Jose neighborhood plans. - Sofia Nelson Ms. Nelson gave a powerpoint presentation outlining the work and timeline of the Track, Ridge, Grasshopper and San Jose Neighborhoods. Sofia stated there was a community meeting along with a Council Workshop in September. There was work performed with the Steering Comn-dttee s September, October and November that included Stakeholder Interviews, Steering Committee Meeting #7, 8 and 9, Community Meeting #3 and Analysis of Community Input. Ms. Nelson also stated there was a joint Steering Committee meeting December 131". The neighborhood developed goals are: Conservation - Protection of legacy homeowners from displacement; Sharing and celebrating the history and culture of the neighborhoods. Accessibility - Guides infrastructure improvements for transportation and flooding concerns. Restoration -- Proposes opportunities for compatible neighborhood development. Ms. Nelson reviewed each goal. Implementation Strategy - Conservation • Examine the opportunity to increase targeted Home Repair support for the TRG and. San Jose neighborhoods • Increase funding for the existing Home Repair Program • Support neighborhood creation of a Neighborhood Association • Establish a homeowner education and outreach program • Establish a program to assist homeowners with the creation of a will • Tax relief - examine options for relief for legacy homeowners with homestead exemptions Ms. Nelson and the Board discussed the importance of information to the homeowners in the TRG and San Jose neighborhoods. Implementation Strategies - Conservation Historic Preservation • Complete historic resource survey that includes focus on oral history • Require a COA for demolition of low priority resources within the TRG neighborhood • Utilize Historic Landmark program • Focus on public art projects that celebrate neighborhood history Implementation Strategies - Accessibility Transportation - • Traffic and Safety Studies • Maple Street • Scenic Drive Implementation of Sidewalk Master Plan - • TRG - sidewalks on residential streets • San Jose - remove sidewalk plan for San Jose Street and focus attention on Maple Street Stormwater • Increased Maintenance • Complete Drainage Study Housing Advisory Board Page 3 Minutes December 13, 2021 Implementation Strategies - Restoration Land Use Adopt Neighborhood specific land use plans: San Jose - specific recommendation to be an exclusive single-family neighborhood TRG - specific land use plan that recognizes the varying character zones within the neighborhood. Regulatory • Establish an overlay district at the petition of the neighborhood association: • San Jose - establish height and setback standards unique to neighborhood. • TRG - establish height and demolition standards unique to the neighborhood. Ms. Nelson reviewed over the next steps. • Finalize Implementation Plan based on City Council feedback • Complete Draft Plan review with Steering Committees • Draft Presented to Community for feedback • P&Z recommendation to City Council • City Council Public Hearing and Pt reading • CC 2^d reading After Ms. Nelsons presentation, the board asked what they as a Housing Advisory Board should be doing as they wait for the consultants to start the Unified Development Code diagnostics. Ms. Nelson stated the board should continue having discussions about what the best practices you are seeing in other areas and reporting them back to the Board. The Board asked and Ms. Nelson stated these recommendations will be forwarded to the consultants. Ms. Nelson stated it is important to continue these discussions, so you as a Board can convey these practices to the consultants. The Board agreed to wait to confirm the January meeting due to the regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 17th which is a city holiday. Motion to Adjourn. Approved (7-0). The meeting was adjourned at 4:39 p.m. 01'bz (�'L Approve Wendy Cash, Chair Housing Advisory Board Minutes December 13, 2021 ttest, Linda Sloan, Secretary Page 4