HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHO Amended Draft 5-8-18
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 1 of 17
Sec. 38.43.010. - Legislative findings.
The city commission hereby finds:
A. The Bozeman Community Plan establishes a goal to encourage an adequate
supply of affordable housing and land for affordable housing in Bozeman. A lack
of affordable housing affects the ability of many residents to find housing which is
adequate for their basic housing needs. A lack of adequate housing affects
health, social stability, and other issues which can have negative and
intergenerational effects. To fulfill this goal, the community plan establishes an
objective to promote the development of a variety of housing types, designs, and
costs to meet the wide range of needs of Bozeman residents.
B. The Affordable Housing Action Plan: 2012—2016 (action plan) analyzed
housing needs and existing market conditions and determined housing
affordability has become an acute problem as demonstrated by the number of
households paying over 30 percent of their incomes for housing. A 2015 update
to the city's housing needs analysis (action plan update) concluded that the
group of home buyers with significant affordability gaps have incomes at or below
80 percent of the area medium income and are in need of subsidies and/or
below-market home prices. The action plan update also determined that buying
opportunities are increasingly scarce for home buyers with incomes between 60
percent and 100 percent of AMI, and that housing and land prices have
increased faster than incomes for many of Bozeman's residents.
C. Since the adoption of the Bozeman Community Plan and the action plan, the
median sales price of housing has continued to climb. According to the action
plan update, as of the end of November 2014, the median home price was
$287,000.00.
D. The Action Plan Update states that the number of detached homes priced
below $250,000.00, a rough indicator of housing affordability for a family of three
at 100 percent of AMI, has fallen from 48.4 percent of the market in 2012 to just
18.6 percent in 2014.
E. There is a critical shortage of dwelling units affordable to Bozeman
households with incomes at and below the area median income, as currently
calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As a
result, some residents pay excessive amounts of income for housing, reducing
the amounts available for other necessities and a decent and adequate standard
of living.
F. Limited housing opportunities within the city requires households to seek
housing outside of the city limits which has a negative impact on transportation
infrastructure by adding unnecessary trips to the network. Increased driving
distance to affordable housing also negatively impacts air and water quality. To
maintain a sufficient resident workforce in all fields of employment, and to ensure
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 2 of 17
the public safety and general welfare of the residents of the City of Bozeman,
affordable housing needs must be addressed.
G. The city can achieve its goals of providing more affordable housing and its
goal of achieving an economically balanced community only if part of the new
dwelling units built are affordable to households with low and moderate incomes.
H. The inclusionary housing regulations codified in this article will substantially
advance the city's legitimate interest in assuring that additional dwelling units
built in the city are affordable to residents, including low- and moderate-income
households and dispersed throughout the city in order to encourage economic
integration of the city's residents.
I. This article is adopted pursuant to the city's self-governing powers and the
city's independent general police power to protect public health, safety, and
welfare. Requiring affordable housing within certain developments is consistent
with the community's housing goals of protecting the public welfare by fostering
an adequate supply of housing for persons at all economic levels and
maintaining both economic diversity and geographically dispersed affordable
housing.
J. Requiring developers of newly created dwelling units to provide some housing
affordable to low and moderate-income households is reasonably related to the
impacts of their projects because:
a. Rising land prices are a key factor in preventing development of new
affordable housing. New market-rate housing construction in Bozeman has
generally created strong and increasing demand for a finite stock of unbuilt land
within the city, and thus continues to drive up the price of remaining land. New
development without affordable units reduces the amount of land development
opportunities available for the construction of affordable housing.
b. New residents of market-rate housing place demands on services provided by
both public and private sectors, creating a demand for new employees. Some of
these public and private sector employees needed to meet the needs of the new
residents earn incomes only adequate to pay for affordable housing. Because
affordable housing is in short supply in the city, such employees may be forced to
live in less than adequate housing within the city, pay a disproportionate share of
their incomes to live in adequate housing in the city, or commute ever increasing
distances to their jobs from housing located outside the city. These
circumstances harm the city's ability to attain employment and housing goals
articulated in the community plan and place strains on the city's ability to accept
and service new market-rate housing development.
Sec. 38.43.020. - Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety, and
welfare by ensuring that the affordable housing needs of the residents of
Bozeman are addressed. In addition, the purpose of this article is to ensure that
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 3 of 17
quality housing is dispersed throughout Bozeman's neighborhoods for
households of a variety of income levels including low- and moderate-income
residents to meet the goals of the community plan and the action plan by
encouraging a mix of housing types throughout the city and integrating
affordable housing so as to not concentrate affordable housing in a particular
area.
In addition, the article is intended to alleviate the impacts that would result
from the use of available residential land solely for the benefit of households that
are able to afford market-rate housing and to mitigate the service burden
imposed by households in new market-rate residential developments by making
additional affordable housing available for service employees. The article is also
intended to mitigate environmental and other impacts that accompany new
residential development by reducing traffic, transit and related air quality impacts,
promoting jobs/housing balance and reducing the demands placed on
transportation infrastructure.
The article provides residential developers and builders with a variety of
options for satisfying the requirement of this ordinance to provide affordable
dwelling units on the same site as market-rate residential developments, and
provides incentives for housing developers and builders to ensure that dwelling
units are constructed and sold in a manner that furthers the city's affordable
housing goals.
Finally, the article provides incentives for housing developers and builders
who are not legally required to comply with the requirements for construction of
inclusionary housing, but nevertheless choose to construct affordable housing.
Sec. 38.43.030. - Applicability.
A. This article applies to:
1. Subdivisions and site plans which are greater than one acre in size or propose
ten or more dwelling units, to be created through development, new construction,
substantial improvement or reuse.
2. Annexations where the net developable area of the annexing parcel when
considering the applicable zoning could result in ten or more dwellings units. In
such a case, the annexation agreement shall require the provision of affordable
housing pursuant to this article.
3. Developments seeking to use incentives to develop affordable housing.
B. Contiguous tracts under common ownership and control. A developer may not
avoid the requirements for construction of affordable homes by submitting
piecemeal applications for development. At the time of the initial application for
approval of a subdivision or site plan, the developer shall identify all contiguous
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 4 of 17
property under common ownership and control in the affordable housing plan
required by section 38.43.100.
C. Development applications approved prior to the effective date of this article. A
site plan or subdivision having received sufficiency approval as of the effective
date of this article or a preliminary site plan or preliminary plat granted approval
prior to the effective date of this article may apply for one or more of the
incentives described herein. Only that portion of the amended preliminary plat or
site plan pertaining to the request for approval of one or more incentives will be
subject to review. The requirements of section 38.19.130 for the amendment of
plans will not apply.
D. Newly proposed residential developments which include affordable housing in
excess of this article's requirements for building affordable homes are eligible for
incentives as provided in section 38.43.130. Such request shall require the
preliminary plat or site plan to evidence compliance with all other requirements of
this article.
Sec. 38.43.040. – Definitions.
1. Affordable dwelling unit. A dwelling unit that requires no more than 33 percent
of a household's income for housing expenses and meets the definition of a
lower-priced dwelling unit, moderate-priced dwelling unit or affordable rental unit.
2. Area Median Income or AMI. As calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD), AMI is the median income for a family of four
within a specific geographical area, such as Gallatin County. For each such
region, HUD adjusts this AMI calculation for households of different sizes and
updates the calculations annually based on estimated changes in area incomes.
For purposes of this article, the city hereby adopts HUD's AMI calculations as an
equitable and reasonable method to determine affordability, based on
percentages of AMI specified in this article.
3. Affordable rental unit. Newly created dwelling unit for rental determined by the
city in accordance with this article to be affordable to a household with an income
at or below 60% of the AMI.
4. Builder. For purposes of this article, a builder is the person or legal entity, or
their successor(s) in interest who constructs dwelling unit(s) subject to the
requirements of this Ordinance and/or receives incentives for the production of
affordable housing.
5. Common ownership or control. "Common ownership or control" refers to
property owned or controlled by the same person, persons, or entity, or by
separate entities in which any shareholder, partner, member, or family member
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 5 of 17
of an investor of the entity owns ten percent or more of the interest in the
property.
6. Developer. For purposes of this article, a developer is the person or legal
entity, or their successor(s) in interest who: (a) submits a plan for a subject
property along with other submissions required for land use approvals, zoning, or
permit reviews by the city, and/or (b) is the owner of property subject to this
article during the development phase or a successor in title obligated to
implement an affordable housing plan as required by this article with respect to
one or more lots or parcels of land; and/or (c) receives incentives for the
production of affordable housing.
7. Dwelling Unit. Any structure intended for residential occupancy.
8. Liquid assets. Assets such as cash, stocks, bonds or similar that can readily
be converted to cash with no significant loss in value, but excluding long
retirement assets such as IRA accounts, 401K accounts, pension funds, etc.
Explicitly excluding retirement.
9. Lower-priced dwelling unit. Newly created dwelling unit, determined by the city
in accordance with this article to be affordable to a household with an income
below 80 percent of AMI.
10. Market-rate dwelling unit. Any dwelling unit subject to this article which is not
an affordable home. The number of market-rate dwelling units in a development
is used to determine the required number of affordable homes, as described in
this article.
11. Moderate-priced dwelling unit. Newly created dwelling unit, affordable to a
household with an income between 81 percent and 100 percent of AMI.
12. Qualified Buyer. A person or persons meeting the income guidelines
necessary to qualify for purchase of a lower-priced or moderate-priced dwelling
unit provided under this ordinance.
13. Qualified Tennant. A person or persons meeting the income guidelines
necessary to qualify for rental of an affordable dwelling unit provided under this
ordinance.
Sec. 38.43.050. - Requirement to increase the supply of affordable dwelling units.
All development subject to this article must include affordable dwelling units.
Sec. 38.43.060. - Requirement to provide for affordable dwelling units.
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 6 of 17
Developers and builders must separately meet the requirements of this
ordinance pertaining to actions available to each as described below.
A. Developers must ensure that covenants, deed restrictions, or other
encumbrances on the development do not preclude the inclusion of
affordable housing. Developers must provide for affordable housing by
doing one of the actions below or a combination thereof approved by the
Director of Community Development:
1. Providing a minimum of 20% of the lots in the development be at a
size of between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet and lot coverage be
restricted to no more than 50%. 50% of these lots to be provided at
cost to the City, HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, a builder submitting an
approved plan for construction of affordable dwelling units, or other
approved provider of low income housing. Reduced setbacks or row
houses are encouraged for dwelling units constructed on lots less
than 2500 square feet in size.
2. Providing a minimum of 25% of the lots in the development be at
a size between 2,000 to 4,000 square feet and lot coverage be no
more than 50%. Fifty percent of these lots to be provided at cost to
the City, HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, a builder submitting an
approved plan for construction of affordable dwelling units, or other
approved provider of low income housing.
3. Providing a minimum of 15% of the lots in the development be at
a size of between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet and lot coverage be
restricted to no more than 50%. 25% of these lots to be provided at
zero cost to the City, HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, a builder
submitting an approved plan for construction of affordable dwelling
units, or other approved provider of low income housing.
4. Providing 5% of the lots in the subdivision at zero cost to the City,
HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, a builder submitting an approved plan
for construction of affordable dwelling units, or other approved
provider of low income housing.
5 .Making 10% of the lots available at cost to the City, HRDC, Habitat
for Humanity, a builder submitting an approved plan for construction
of affordable dwelling units, or other approved provider of low income
housing.
6. Making a payment in lieu of providing for affordable housing equal
to 10 % of the average selling price of 20% of the lots in the
development. A lien requiring that 10% of the selling price of the lots
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 7 of 17
chosen be paid to the Affordable Housing Fund will be placed on the
lots at the time of platting.
7. Providing 10% of the lots to builders at a price affordable to a
person purchasing a low priced home ( if land cost averages 25%
and a low priced home is $200,000 including land) then the lot in this
case should be provided at $50,000).
8. Providing 20% of the lots to builders at a price affordable to a
person purchasing a moderate priced home. For the purposes of this
ordinance, the lot cost for a 2 bedroom or smaller affordable home
shall be set at 25% of the cost of an affordable dwelling unit as
defined in this ordinance; the lot cost for a 3 bedroom or larger
affordable home shall be set at 25% of the cost of an affordable
dwelling unit as defined in this ordinance.
9. 30% of lots are deed restricted to require homes be built with
Accessory Dwelling Units which must be rented to a Qualified
Tennant at below the fair market rental rate per the guidelines of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development for a period of at
least 5 years.
10. Providing an alternate plan to provide affordable housing for low
income individuals approved by the Director of Community
Development.
B. Builders must ensure that affordable dwelling units are constructed of
durable materials, as approved by the Community Development
Department, and meet all current life safety requirements. Affordable
dwelling units, constructed to satisfy the requirements of this ordinance,
must be sold, rented, or leased at or below the prices for affordable
dwelling units stipulated in this ordinance. The affordable dwelling units
required by this ordinance must be sold, rented, or leased to buyers,
renters, or lessees qualified as low or moderate income persons under the
terms of this ordinance.
C. Within 30 days of the Community Development Department’s approval
of an affordable housing plan required by this ordinance, developers are
required to provide sales information to the City’s designated agent
sufficient to facilitate the sale of the lot to a qualified purchaser.
D. Within 30 days of the Community Development Department’s approval
of a dwelling unit as plan required by this ordinance, the builder of the
dwelling unit is required to provide sales information to the City’s
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 8 of 17
designated agent sufficient to facilitate the sale of the dwelling unit to a
qualified purchaser.
E. In the event that within 90 days of completion of an affordable dwelling
unit constructed to comply with this ordinance there is no qualified buyer,
renter, or lessee for that affordable dwelling then HRDC, Habitat for
Humanity, or other approved nonprofit housing provider will have the Right
of First Refusal to purchase or rent the dwelling unit at the affordable
dwelling unit price. Should HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, or other approved
nonprofit housing provider refuse to purchase or rent the unit then the
affordable dwelling unit is released from all encumbrances placed on that
unit by this ordinance and will count toward the construction of affordable
dwelling units as required by this ordinance.
Sec. 38.43.070. - Purchase and Rental Rates
A. The city will calculate on an annual basis the maximum sales price a builder
may charge for each category of affordable dwelling unit required by this article
as follows:
1. Lower-priced homes. The maximum sales price for lower-priced homes
will be calculated based on a household income of 70 percent of AMI.
2. Moderate-priced homes. The maximum sales price for moderate-priced
homes will be calculated based on a household income of 90 percent of
AMI.
B. Affordable home sales price schedule.
1. The city will annually publish a schedule of sales prices for low-priced
homes and moderate-priced homes within 30 calendar days of the HUD's
annual publication of updated AMI calculations. The sales price schedule
will be effective on the date of publication by the city. The sales price
schedule will apply to applications for building permits received on or after
the effective date of the sales price schedule.
2. The city, at the city's sole discretion, may recalculate the sales price
schedule if prevailing mortgage interest rates have changed by 50 basis
points or more from the assumption used for the previous schedule.
3. Considerations. The following factors will be considered by the city in
calculating the sales price schedule. The director of community
development may make de minims exceptions to application of these
factors:
a. AMI for the Bozeman area;
b. Gross monthly income will be calculated as the appropriate HUD
AMI calculations income divided by 12;
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 9 of 17
c. The maximum monthly payment will be 33 percent of gross monthly
income. The maximum monthly payment will include costs directly
applicable to a mortgage such as payment of principal, interest, as
well as assumptions for typical costs of taxes, public assessments,
property insurance premiums, mortgage insurance premiums
(assuming the higher of either government or private mortgage
insurance), and homeowner/condominium association fees;
d. The interest rate will be determined by the city by a survey of at
least three local mortgage lenders, averaging their current rates for
loans for homes with price ranges within the low-priced homes range
and the moderate-priced homes range; and
f. A borrower will typically contribute $1,000.00 toward the purchase
price.
C. Household occupancy assumptions. To determine the maximum sales prices
of affordable dwelling units with different numbers of bedrooms, the city will base
its calculation on the AMIs for households of different sizes, as follows:
1. Zero bedroom or studio unit: AMI for a one-person household;
2. One bedroom unit: AMI for a two-person household;
3. Two bedroom unit: AMI for a three-person household; and
4. Three bedroom unit or larger: AMI for a four-person household.
D. Affordable rental rate schedule. The maximum rental rates for affordable
rentals covered by this ordinance, will be 60% or less of the maximum allowable
Housing and Urban Development rental rates published by the Montana Board of
Housing and in effect at the time the application for construction of the rental unit
was submitted.
Sec. 38.43.080. - Timing of delivery of affordable lots and dwelling units.
Required lots for affordable dwelling units must be provided in accordance with
the following:
A. In each development in which more than one affordable dwelling unit is
required to be provided, the affordable housing plan shall specify that lots for
affordable dwelling units are to be provided concurrently and in proportion to the
provision of unimproved lots or market-rate homes. Such timing of compliance
will be represented in an affordable lots and dwelling units pricing and delivery
schedule as described in section 38.43.100.
B. A developer may provide affordable lots and a builder may build and sell
affordable dwelling units earlier than required in an affordable housing plan.
Sec. 38.43.090. - Minimum design and construction standards for
affordable homes.
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 10 of 17
A. Standards for design and construction. The city shall define reasonable
standards for the design and construction of affordable dwelling units. Affordable
dwelling units must be constructed with durable materials and finishes as
required by city design standards for affordable housing and must meet the
design guidelines for the neighborhood.
B. Amenities. Affordable dwelling units shall have access to the same amenities
as the market-rate homes in the development, including the same access to and
enjoyment of common open space and facilities in the development.
Sec. 38.43.100. - Submission of affordable housing plan; approval.
A. Affordable housing plan. The applicant for any development required to create
affordable housing subject to the requirements of this article must submit an
affordable housing plan in a form provided by or approved by the city that
describes how the requirements of this article will be satisfied. When approved
by the city, the affordable housing plan must be incorporated by reference in the
recorded subdivision plat, site plan or annexation agreement. The applicant will
provide only one affordable housing plan to meet the requirements of this article.
B. Affordable housing plan as binding agreement. An affordable housing plan
approved by the city will be considered a binding contract between the developer
and the developer's successor in interest to the lot. Such plan will be included in
a separate recorded written agreement between the developer and the city, or
incorporated into another recorded document wherein the developer is required
to implement the affordable housing plan.
C. Contents of affordable housing plan. The affordable housing plan submitted by
the developer must include, at a minimum:
1. The method by which the requirements of this affordable housing ordinance
will be satisfied;
2. Number of market-rate homes in the development;
3. Location of affordable lots in the development;
4. Dimensions and squarefootage of the affordable lots and;
5. Any other information that is reasonably necessary to evaluate the compliance
of the affordable housing plan with the requirements of this article.
D. Approval of affordable housing plan. The affordable housing plan will be
reviewed as part of the initial application approval process for the type of
development proposed. A condition shall be attached to the approval of any
subdivision plat or site plan to require recordation of the affordable housing plan
or other separate agreement obligating the developer to meet the requirements
of this article.
Sec. 38.43.110. - Marketing, sales and occupancy of affordable homes.
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 11 of 17
Lots and dwelling units subject to this article shall be marketed and sold
through the City’s agent in accordance with provisions described in the
city's published instructions for affordable housing. The City’s agent will
provide services such as waiting list management, marketing of affordable
homes, actions to be taken in the event of inability to identify qualified
buyers, procedures for certification of buyer eligibility, purchase contracts,
and full disclosures to buyers of their obligations and rights under this
article. In order to be considered as satisfying the requirements of this
ordinance dwelling units must be sold rented or leased to and occupied by
a Qualified Buyer or Qualified Tennant except that if 90 days after the of
completion of an affordable dwelling unit constructed to comply with this
ordinance and provision of all required information to the City’s agent no
qualified buyer, renter, or lessee has entered in to a contract to purchase,
rent, or lease the unit then HRDC will have the right of first refusal to
purchase or rent the dwelling unit at the affordable dwelling unit price.
Should HRDC, Habitat for Humanity, or other approved nonprofit housing
provider refuse to purchase or rent the unit then the affordable dwelling unit
will be released from all encumbrances placed on that unit by this
ordinance and the unit will count toward the construction of affordable
dwelling units as required by this ordinance.
Sec. 38.43.120. - Recording requirements upon sale of affordable home.
The city or its agent shall cause to be recorded in the offices of the Gallatin
County Clerk and Recorder, simultaneously with the recording of the deed of
conveyance, a restrictive covenant, deed of trust or other legal instrument,
approved as to form by the Bozeman City Attorney that fulfills the resale and
recapture requirements described in section 38.43.160.
Sec. 38.43.130. - Incentives available for developers of affordable housing.
Developers will be granted any or all of the following incentives to facilitate the
provision of affordable housing.
Incentives Description Lower
Priced
Dwelling
Units
Moderate
Priced
Dwelling
Units
70%
AMI
80%
AMI
90% AMI
Waiver of
subdivision
pre-
application
Waive pre-application for subdivision when ten percent of
units are designated for lower price homes.
X X
Reduction of Delete any parkland requirement for affordable housing lots. X
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 12 of 17
parkland 1 Parkland dedication is not required for affordable housing
lots within a mile of an existing or planned park
Reduced
minimum lot
sizes
Per the provisions in this chapter, affordable homes may
utilize reduced setback requirements and reduced sized
lots. The reduction in lot size shall be allowed to create an
increase in maximum unit density beyond the maximum
currently allowed in a given zoning district.
X X X
Concurrent
infrastructure
housing
construction
Concurrent construction of infrastructure and housing
development at the installation of gravel-base roads,
provided the developer has provided assurance through a
performance bond, letter of credit or other financial security
acceptable to the city attorney ensuring the completion of
infrastructure. This provision applies to affordable dwelling
units and up to 50% of the market rate homes in a
development which includes affordable dwelling units.
X X
Expedited
review for
affordable
housing 1+1
Detached homes and attached homes in groups of less
than six units will receive expedited (three business day)
building permit review for affordable housing. For each
building permit for an affordable home, a market rate unit
will receive the same expedited review.
X X X
Reduced
parking
requirements
Reduced parking requirement of two spaces per three-
bedroom dwelling.
X X
Longer Block
Lengths
When 10 or more lots in a development are provided for
affordable housing, block lengths in the development may
be up to 800 feet without the provision of trails.
X X X
Park Access Parks in developments providing 10 or more lots for
affordable housing are required to have streets on only two
sides
X X
Building
Permits
When the developer has provided assurance through a
performance bond, letter of credit or other financial security
acceptable to the city attorney ensuring the completion of
infrastructure, Building Permits for up to 20% of the lots in
the development will be issued before the infrastructure is
complete and punch list items have been corrected.
X X X
Sec. 38.43.132. - Incentives available to builders of affordable dwelling
units.
Builders will be granted any or all of the following incentives to facilitate the
provision of affordable housing.
Incentives Description Lower Moderate
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 13 of 17
Dwelling
Units
Dwelling
Units
70%
AMI
80%
AMI
90% AMI
Low Priced
Lot
Builders will be provided low priced lots made available by
developers through the city or its agent when they agree to
construct on the lot a low or moderate priced dwelling unit
that will be sold to a qualified buyer
X X X
Dwelling Unit
Bonus
Upon Completion and sale of a low or moderate priced
dwelling unit to a qualified buyer the builder will receive a
dwelling unit bonus, subject to availability of funds
$8,000 $6,500 $4,000
Rental
Dwelling
Bonus
Upon execution of an agreement with the City to provide
low income rental units to qualified tenants for a period of
not less than 10 years the builder will receive a dwelling unit
bonus, subject to availability of funds
$1,000 per
unit
$800 per
unit
Energy
Efficiency
Builders may apply for an energy conservation bonus when
using construction techniques, materials, or systems that
substantially reduce the energy requirements of the
dwelling unit
Open Open Open
Sec. 38.43.134. - Incentives available to qualified buyers of affordable
dwelling units.
Qualified Buyers will be granted any or all of the following incentives to facilitate
the provision of affordable housing.
Incentives Description Lower
Dwelling
Units
Moderate
Dwelling
Units
70%
AMI
80%
AMI
90% AMI
Down
Payment
Assistance
Subject to the availability of funds, the city will provide on a
first-come first-served basis, down payment assistance not
to exceed $10,000.00 per home benefiting households.
Down-payment assistance will only be provided directly to
the qualifying homebuyer. This assistance shall be secured
with a lien instrument due upon sale, transfer or non-
rate/term refinance of the home.
Down payment assistance will be forgiven at a rate of 10%
per year for each year the owner occupies the home.
X X X
Dwelling Unit
Purchase
Facilitation
The City will provide through its agent assistance for
qualified purchasers to become pre-qualified to purchase
dwelling units that may become available through this
ordinance.
X X X
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 14 of 17
Sec 38.43.140 – Alternative Means of Compliance
This Section has been deleted in its entirety.
38.43.150. - Qualification of buyers of affordable homes.
A. Lower-priced homes. To qualify for purchase of a lower-priced home, a buyer
must meet the following criteria:
1. A household income below 80 percent AMI, as verified and certified by the city;
such certification must have been provided no more than one year prior to the
closing date of the purchase. Income verification will be performed using HUD's
online income certification tool or a similar method that meets Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 24 Part 5, as amended, which adjusts gross incomes based
on extraordinary expenses and imputation of assets to income. De minims
exceptions to the income limits may be made by the Director of Community
Development.
2. Maximum liquid assets of $25,000.00 at the time of income certification.
Exceptions may be granted by the director of community development based on
extraordinary circumstances.
3. The household occupying the lower-priced home must meet the definition of
"household" in 38.42.1420.
4. The buyer must meet one of the following definitions of "first-time homebuyer":
a. An individual who has had no ownership interest in a principal
residence during the three-year period ending with the date of purchase; or
b. A single parent whose only prior home was owned with a former spouse
while married; or
c. An individual who is a displaced homemaker and has only owned with a
spouse; or
d. An individual who has only owned a principal residence not
permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable
regulations; or
e. An individual who has only owned a property that was not in compliance
with state, local or model building codes and which cannot be brought into
compliance for less than the cost of construction a permanent structure.
5. The buyer must contribute at least $1,000.00 towards the purchase of the
home unless waived in writing by the city because of extraordinary
circumstances, such as death of primary or secondary income earner or
qualification as displaced homemaker.
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 15 of 17
6. The household in a lower-priced home must occupy the home as its primary
residence for a period of at least 5 years. Lower-priced homes may not be rented
to another party, since the intent of the program is to provide these homes only
for income-qualified owner occupants, with the exception of rentals for a limited
period of time necessitated by a family hardship or a temporary move for one
year or less, if approved in advance by the city.
B. Moderate-priced homes. To purchase a moderate-priced home, a buyer must
occupy the home as a primary residence for a period of not less than 5 years and
meet the following criteria.
1. A household income below 100 percent AMI, as verified and certified by the
city; such certification must have been provided no more than one year prior to
the closing date of the purchase. Income verification will be performed using
HUD's online income certification tool or a similar method that meets Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 24 Part 5, as amended, which adjusts gross incomes
based on extraordinary expenses and imputation of assets to income. De minims
exceptions to the income limits may be made by the Director of Community
Development.
38.43.160. - Subsidy recapture.
To ensure that the community investment in affordable housing is perpetuated
and that beneficiaries of affordable housing programs do not receive a windfall
financial benefit, the city requires that if a valuation greater than the original
purchase price plus a 4% increase in the value of a home acquired under this
ordinance has been attained, as determined by an appraisal, then the buyer of
the home made available through the affordable housing ordinance shall be
required to return $4,000.00 to the City of Bozeman Affordable Housing Fund if
the dwelling unit is sold, transferred, or refinanced with equity converted to cash
out, within 10 years of the date of purchase or when the initial buyer who
qualified for the subsidy has failed to abide by the requirements of this article.
The return requirement will be recorded as a lien against the property at the
Gallatin County Clerk and Recorders office.
B. Use of repayments to the city. The city shall only use repayments of the lien
amounts to fund:
1. Down payment assistance for buyers of dwelling units created as a result of
this ordinance.
2. Any other use approved by the city commission that increases affordable
homeownership opportunities for residents of Bozeman.
38.43.170. - Administration.
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 16 of 17
A. Director of community development authority. The director of community
development or an agent designated by the city commission shall have authority
to promulgate and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations and take all
actions necessary to the effective operation and enforcement of this article,
unless such authority is expressly reserved to the city commission or another city
official, including but not limited to:
1. Reviewing a developer's affordable housing plan for compliance with this
article;
2. Adopting all forms and prescribing the information to be given therein;
3. Monitoring developers' compliance with this article, notifying the developer of
noncompliance, and ordering compliance;
4. Imposing any and all sanctions permitted by this article; and
5. Calculating the annual pricing targets for affordable homes and causing a
sales price schedule to be published. The director of community development
may make de minims exceptions to the factors considered in calculating the price
targets.
B. Administrative manual. The city will publish administrative rules and
instructions approved by the city commission, including but not limited to
instructions for completing the affordable housing plan, and valuations required
by this article.
C. Verification of sales prices and income certification prior to closing. The
Director of Community Development may create standards for documentation the
city will use to verify the sale price of a home created pursuant to this article. The
final sales price may not exceed the maximum price for a specific affordable
home as described on the approved affordable housing plan.
D. Monitoring completed sales. Upon receipt of a settlement statement for an
affordable home, the city will determine if the completed affordable home sale
complies with the approved affordable housing plan and the requirements of this
article, and if not, respond to the noncompliance as provided in section 38.43.180.
38.43.180. - Noncompliance; sanctions.
A. Discovery of noncompliance. If the city determines a developer or builder
subject to an affordable housing plan has failed to comply with any terms or
conditions of the affordable housing plan or this article, the director of community
development or authorized agent shall notify the developer or builder of the
noncompliance in writing and order compliance by the most reasonable and
expeditious means as determined by the city. Notification shall describe a date
38.43. Amended 5/8/18 Page 17 of 17
certain by which the developer or builder must be in full compliance (which may
not be less than one week or more than one year from the date of the notice),
and shall describe: (i) the exact nature of the noncompliance; and (ii) the possible
sanctions for noncompliance with this notification.
B. Cancellation of incentives provided. If a developer or builder sells a dwelling
unit or lot for a price not in compliance with the approved affordable housing plan
or any other recorded documentation obligating developer to comply with this
article, the developer must, prior to the release by the city of the dwelling from
the affordable housing plan or binding agreement, pay the city the difference
between the sale price and the price of the affordable home as set out in the
approved affordable housing plan or provide an alternative method of compliance
approved by the Director of Community Development.
C. Sanctions for noncompliance. In addition to other remedies available to the
city pursuant to this article, if on a date certain by which compliance has been
ordered by the director of community development or authorized agent, the
developer or builder remains in noncompliance, the director of community
development or authorized agent shall notify the city attorney of the
noncompliance and request that sanctions be imposed. The city shall have the
authority to impose one or more sanctions including but not limited to the
following which the city deems most effective and appropriate considering the
nature of the noncompliance:
1. Withholding or revoking building permits;
2. Issuing stop-work orders; and/or
3. Withholding certificates of occupancy.