THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board of County Commissioner's ("Board") vision of "A Sustainable, Creative Approach to Community Redevelopment and Housing," through implementation of the following goals: 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, including purchase and rental; and Goal 3: Develop, through effective community collaboration, neighborhoods and communities incorporating intermodal connectivity, while integrating energy efficiency and other livability standards and initiatives.
In accordance with House Bill 1337 passed in the 2007 Legislative Session and associated changes to Rule 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 on June 10, 2008, by Ordinance No. 2008-23.
The responsibilities, composition, and reporting requirements for the AHAC are outlined in Section 420.9076(2), Florida Statutes ("F.S."), and Rule 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 Affordable Housing Incentive Strategies Report (Report) and submit the Report to the local government, which Report evaluates established policies, procedures, ordinances, land development regulations and the comprehensive plan, and recommends changes to promote affordable housing, if necessary. The most recent triennial Report was approved by the Board on December 12, 2017 (Item No. 29).
The initial Report was required to be submitted to the Board for approval by December 31, 2008; and, thereafter, transmitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (“Corporation”). The SHIP Statute requires this action every three years thereafter. This requirement has been met by the County. The development of the 2017 Report was the result of the AHAC’s monthly meetings, which were convened from May 14, 2017 through 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. One recommendation from the 2017 Report was to add a new strategy option to the LHAP entitled Community Land Trust. The LHAP describes and governs the programs by strategies for the Broward County SHIP Program. Pursuant to Section 420. .907(22), Florida Statutes, addition of a strategy to the LHAP requires Board approval prior to submittal to the Corporation for its review and approval. The County's current LHAP, which became effective July 1, 2016, continues through June 30, 2019.
The Community Land Trust (CLT) is designed to assist eligible first-time homebuyers with the benefit of owning a home at a substantially reduced cost by taking the cost of the land out of the purchase price of the home. SHIP funds provided directly to the Community Land Trust (CLT) shall be secured by a Declaration of Restrictive Covenant running with the land for a 30 year Affordability Period. |