HomeMy WebLinkAboutF1b. Staff Memo
MEMORANDUM
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TO: Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board (CAHAB)
FROM: Tanya Andreasen, Community Housing Program Manager
RE: Discussion and recommended language related to affordable
housing for the Engineering Design Standards update scope of work.
MEETING DATE: 12/9/2020
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action
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Background:
The Community Housing Action Plan, accepted by the City Commission on November
19, 2019, identifies 19 Strategies and 78 associated Action Items to address the
faceted aspects of affordable housing in our community. One of those Strategies is
called Removal of Regulatory Barriers. There are 6 Action items associated with that
strategy, and one of them is to:
Explore revisiting Engineering Design Standards and Specifications Policy to
allow more compact development standards.
CAHAB members expressed a desire to contribute ideas related to affordable housing
for staff to consider when crafting the scope of work for the Engineering Design
Standards review.
Staff requested that individual CAHAB members email or otherwise communicate
their individual ideas related to the Engineering Design Standards review and update.
The consultant team’s initial proposal and presentation slides, as well as the Request
for Proposal were provided to CAHAB members by email for consideration, and are
included in the packet materials for this agenda item. At this meeting, CAHAB input
will be gathered by staff, and be memorialized in a written document (Attachment A).
An initial draft of CAHAB member ideas was created by staff, and is attached to this
memorandum.
Suggested Motion:
Having reviewed the materials provided, I move to approve CAHAB’s
recommendations as discussed and memorialized by staff for inclusion in the scope of
work that initiates a review of City Engineering Design Standards to identify potential
changes that could reduce barriers and encourage affordable residential development
and preservation.
Attachments:
Draft ideas for Engineering Design Standards Review scope of services.
Attachment A:
Draft ideas for Engineering Design Standards Review scope of services
Compact engineering standards have been found in other communities to create
opportunity for increased density and smaller home design that can create
efficiencies in construction and life cycle costs, sometimes making those homes
more affordable to purchase and live in over time. Increased density can mean that
more homes can fit on less land, also creating opportunities for increasing
affordability.
Consider minimum required utility easements for sewer, electricity, and natural
gas.
Consider how utility hook ups and associated requirements might prevent infill
projects such as Accessory Dwelling Units on existing city lots.
Consider how street construction standards could be modified for certain
affordable housing projects while still ensuring life/safety measures.