THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
This item supports the Board’s vision of offering sustainable, compatible, innovative housing options for all income levels, including integrated supportive housing and rapid-rehousing: Goal 1: Facilitate a regional approach to growth and redevelopment through coordination and collaboration at the federal, state, county, and local levels; Goal 2: Strengthen stakeholder partnerships to increase the availability of affordable housing options of all types (e.g. rental, purchase, supportive, etc.), county-wide, in every community; and Goal 3: Develop, through effective community collaboration, neighborhoods and communities incorporating intermodal connectivity, while integrating energy efficiency, community resilience, and other livability standards and initiatives.
In accordance with House Bill 1337 passed in the 2007 Legislative Session and associated changes to Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), counties and cities receiving State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds were required to establish an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) by June 30, 2008. The Broward County AHAC was established by Ordinance No. 2008-23 on June 10, 2008, Item No. 9.
The responsibilities, composition, and reporting requirements for the AHAC are outlined in Section 420.9076(2), Florida Statutes ("F.S."), and Chapter 67-37.010, F.A.C. as follows: (i) Prepare a recommended local affordable housing incentive plan for local government approval; and (ii) Prepare a triennial report and submit the report to the local government, which report evaluates established policies, procedures, ordinances, land development regulations and the comprehensive plan, and recommend changes to promote affordable housing, if necessary.
The initial report was required to be submitted to the local government for approval by December 31, 2008; and, thereafter, transmitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The SHIP Statute requires the report to be submitted to the local government and the governing agency, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, every three years after the initial report by December 31st of that year. This requirement has been satisfied by the AHAC.
At this time, the Board is being requested to accept the recommendations of the AHAC. The AHAC has satisfied the requirements of the past report, reviewed additional issues, and met the State requirements. Below is information concerning the Committee, its responsibilities, and activities.
Committee Composition:
The AHAC must include eleven members representing the following disciplines: 1) The home building industry; 2) The banking or mortgage banking industry; 3) The labor industry actively engaged in home building; 4) An advocate of low income persons; 5) A for-profit provider of affordable housing; 6) A not-for-profit provider of affordable housing; 7) A real estate professional; 8) A citizen serving on the local planning agency; 9) A resident of the jurisdiction; 10) A citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction; and 11) A citizen who represents essential services personnel as defined the local housing assistance plan.
Committee Reporting Requirements:
The AHAC report must address the implementation of affordable housing incentives in the following eleven areas: 1) Processing approval of development orders or permits; 2) Modification of impact fee requirements; 3) Density flexibility; 4) The reservation of infrastructure capacity; 5) Affordable accessory residential units; 6) Reduction of parking and setback requirements; 7) Flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations; 8) Modification of street requirements; 9) A process by which a local government considers, before adoption, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that increase the cost of housing; 10) A printed inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing; and 11) Policies which support development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed-use developments.
The AHAC recommendations may also include other affordable housing incentives identified by the AHAC in accordance with Section 420.9076(4)(k), F. S. The AHAC’s additional incentives for the 2017 report were: 1) Standardize terms of SHIP Mortgages/Notes; 2) Provide SHIP funds to the Community Land Trust Initiatives; 3) Generate a dedicated revenue source to remain in Broward County with a new nominal fee paid by the grantor of all real estate transaction conveyances recorded in Broward County, to be deposited into an affordable housing trust fund administered by the County; and 4) Reset formula for distribution of SHIP funds to local governments.
The development of the Report was the result of the AHAC’s monthly meetings and input from various affordable housing stakeholders, which convened May 14, 2017, and monthly thereafter until November 7, 2017. Presentations were made by representatives from the Broward County Planning Council, and the South Florida Community Land Trust. Topics covered various affordable housing incentives and issues.
In accordance with Section 420.9076, F. S., and Chapter 67-37, F.A.C., the AHAC is required to submit for approval a current Affordable Housing Incentive Strategies Report (Report) to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners prior to submittal to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation by December 31, 2017. During the September 27, 2017 AHAC meeting, the AHAC reviewed and discussed the Report developed in 2014, and provided County staff with recommendations for the 2017 Report. At the October 25, 2017 AHAC meeting, County staff provided updates to the 2014 Report and produced a draft 2017 Report. The AHAC conducted a Public Hearing on November 7, 2017, regarding the 2017 Report. The Public Hearing was to solicit the public’s input for recommendations to be included in the 2017 Report.
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