HomeMy WebLinkAboutWork Plan Priorities LetterJanuary 8, 2020
Commissioners:
In line with the definition of Community Housing found in the Bozeman Community Housing Action Plan,
that is, “Homes that those who live and/or work in Bozeman can afford to purchase or rent…”, and
understanding that the City has limited resources and so must, in the short term, focus on strategies
that are attainable and provide the greatest return for the time and resources invested, it is the
recommendation of the Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board that the following be considered
as top priorities for the Community Housing work plan:
1. Study of the possibility of including Condominiums in the Affordable Housing Ordinance,
Section 30.380 of the Bozeman Municipal Code, or otherwise incenting the construction of
lower priced condominiums in addition to continued construction of moderately priced
condominiums. According to figures available through the Gallatin Association of Realtors, in
2019 condominiums accounted for more than 33% of the ownership sales of single family,
condominium and town home units. Since condominiums can provide entry level ownership at
a lower price than stand alone housing this will allow families with incomes in the 70% to 120%
AMI range more opportunities to become home owners.
2. Continued focus on evaluating the Unified Development Code, engineering requirements, and
other related regulations, fees, and standards, in order to reduce the hurdles encountered and
minimize the costs incurred when permitting and constructing an ADU. Examples of items to be
evaluated include the 600 square foot size restriction, two person occupancy limit, lot size
requirements and other limiting factors. In addition, incentives encouraging creation of ADUs to
be rented long term at affordable rates can be added to the AHO such as allowing a portion of a
developer’s requirement to provide affordable housing to be satisfied by ensuring subdivision
covenants encourage the inclusion of ADUs. Other incentives that could be provided to
encourage the creation of ADUs on lots with existing homes might include waiving the review
fees for ADUs.
3. Establishing a Land Trust framework and management entity to ensure perpetual affordability
for homes appropriate for Land Trust designation. Providing developers the option to satisfy the
requirement to provide affordable housing by placing land in trust for the purpose of
constructing affordable housing could allow the City to have control over the type of units
constructed on the trust land thereby providing the opportunity for the City to tailor the units
constructed to the City’s needs at the given point in time.
4. Investigate the feasibility of a rental subsidy program.
5. Due to the interconnectedness of the financial component of Inclusionary Zoning, Homebuyer
Assistance, Fee Waivers / Deferral, and Commercial Linkage combine these strategies to benefit
from the possibly overlapping actions.
6. Increase to 120% the percentage of the AMI that a family can earn and still qualify for incentives
provided under the Affordable Housing Ordinance.
Unanimously approved by the Community Affordable Housing Board at their regular meeting held on
January 8, 2020.
Sincerely,
Kevin Thane, Chair
City of Bozeman Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board