HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3037 Establishing affordable housing policy
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COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 3037
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN,
MONTANA, ESTABLISHING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY FOR THE
CITY OF BOZEMAN.
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Bozeman has identified affordable
housing as one of its top priority goals in each of the last three fiscal years; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission did, on the 26th day of July 1993, appoint the
Bozeman Housing Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the Bozeman Housing Task Force was tasked with
providing
recommendations for addressing the affordable housing problem in Bozeman; and
WHEREAS, the Bozeman Housing Task Force submitted its recommendations, dated
June 1994, to the Bozeman City Commission; and
WHEREAS, since that time, the City Commission has conducted several work
sessions, a town meeting and a public hearing on these recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has consolidated and revised the Bozeman Housing
Task Force's recommendations into the Bozeman Affordable Housing Policy Statement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman, Montana, that the Commission hereby adopts the Bozeman Affordable Housing
Policy Statement, dated December 19, 1994, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
"A" and by this reference made a part hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana,
at a regular session thereof held on the 19th day of December 1994.
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ATTEST:
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ROBIN L. SULLIVAN
Clerk of the Commission
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
EXHIBIT "A"
Bozeman Affordable Housing Policy Stat~ment
December 19, 1994
MISSION STATEMENT
To encourage the development of safe, decent, affordable housing in the jurisdictional
area of Bozeman for low- and moderate-income citizens using resources from local, state,
and federal government, in partnership with the non-profit and private sectors of the
community.
AFFORDABILlTY GUIDELINES
For purposes of this policy, affordable refers to housing for low- and moderate-income families that
cannot afford to pay the prevailing rents or make monthly payments necessary to obtain housing
in the community. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays no more than 30
percent of its adjusted monthly income for housing and utilities.
Target guidelines for projects requesting support or assistance from the City of Bozeman are 40 to
60% of the area median income for multi-family rental property and 70 to 100% of area median
income for single family owner-occupied housing. The percentage range equates to a sliding scale
depending on the concessions requested by a developer. The higher the request for assistance, the
lower the percentage of median-income population is to be served by a development, or the higher
the percentage of minimum lots that need to be set aside.
POLICY GUIDELINES
1. Multi-family rental projects will have lower income guidelines than single family
owner-occupied properties.
2. City programs will address niches in the housing market that are not currently being
addressed through other programs or that are addressed inadequately.
3. Initial emphasis for assisting housing development in Bozeman will be on multi-
family projects, manufactured homes, and modular homes, with some assistance
for site built, detached homes.
4. Affordable housing units will be designed with accessibility needs in mind.
Modifications will be made to the units based on the needs of individuals on housing
waiting lists. HUD standards for accessibility will be the standards used by the city.
5. To assure long-term affordability, energy.efficient construction practices will be
included in criteria for awarding development concessions.
6. General health, safety, and welfare issues will not be compromised when awarding
any development concessions. In addition, overall quality of life concerns will be
considered as a part of any development concessions.
7. Concerns of existing neighborhoods related to increased densities, generally
associated with affordable housing developments, will be given consideration.
However, neighborhood impacts will be weighed along with the benefits to the
community as a whole.
GOAL 1 - COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
1. To work in cooperation with the for-profit and non-profit community to construct
or rehabilitate affordable housing.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP OBJECTIVES
1 a. Sponsor grant applications from non-profits for affordable housing projects that
reflect Bozeman interests and priorities.
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EXHIBIT "A"
1 b. Sponsor applications from the for-profit sector of the community for the tax credit
program.
1 c. Promote the CDBG Revolving Loan Fund Housing Rehabilitation Program and work
with applicants to finance housing rehabilitation in Bozeman.
1 d. Award, where appropriate, revised development standards for projects that have
a guarantee of affordability to reduce overall construction costs.
1 e. Encourage all relevant segments of the for~profit community, including lending
institutions and realtors as well as developers and builders, to playa role in creation
of affordable housing.
GOAL 2 -
REGULA TORY REFORM
2. To revise sections of the Bozeman Zone Code to encourage and/or require the
construction of affordable housing.
REGULA TORY REFORM OBJECTIVES
2a. Develop an Affordable Housing PUD.
2b. Identify minimum standards related to life safety, health, and welfare issues that
will not be compromised when awarding development concessions for affordability.
2c. Award incentives to project developers to lower development costs and buy down
affordability for projects that have some guarantee of affordability.
A. Fast track approval for affordable projects.
B. Reduced street width where appropriate.
C. Reduced off-street parking requirem,ents if location permits.
D. Reduced sidewalk width, depending on site lay.out.
E. City pay for utility hook-ups, building permits, or plan check fees,
provide some landscaping, or lower impact fees for properties that.!:'ave
long term guarantees of affordability.
F. Reduced setback requirements depending on site lay-out.
G. And other reforms that can be identified to lower construction costs.
2d. Investigate options for an accessory housing policy that maintains general health,
welfare, and safety and provides a review process that evaluates the impact of
increased residential activity on surrounding property owners.
2e. Develop a mixed neighborhood requirement for all residential zoning designations
that would require 10 percent of the units in a project to be at the minimum size
for that zoning designation. Provisions might include minimum lot size, maximum
density, square footage requirements and apply to all subdivisions, PUDs, major
and minor site plans.
2f. Establish clear, consistent standards for low- and moderate-income housing,
particularly for manufactured and modular housing.
Site development of
manufactured and modular housing will be encouraged and or promoted by the City
of Bozeman. Manufactured and modular home developments will be eligible for all
the development incentives available for affordable housing projects.
2g. Revise master plan and zone code to include density bonus for housing with long-
term guarantee of affordability.
GOAL 3 - PUBLICIZE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
3. To provide information and educational materials on the City's planning
process to developers and property owners.
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EXHIBIT "A"
PUBLICITY OBJECTIVES
3a. Develop educational materials for property owners and the development community
on community building standards.
A. Minimum requirements for applications to the building department.
B. Assistance programs for housing rehabilitation.
C. Requirements when adding on to your home.
D. The design review process.
E. Requirements of landscape plans.
F. Requirements in historic districts.
G. Requirements in conservation overlay districts.
H. Requirements in entryway overlay districts.
I. Optimum Value Engineering Standards.
J. Energy~efficient building practices.
GOAL 4 - COMMUNITY HOUSING FUND
4. To support affordable housing projects or programs with local dollars.
COMMUNITY HOUSING FUND OBJECTIVES
4a. Establish a Community Housing Fund with an initial capital commitment of
$100,000 general fund money to help generate affordable housing for low- and
moderate income people. Seek funding from other government and private sources
as well.
4b. Renewed commitment to the Community Housing Fund will be evaluated annually
according to severity of continuing need, effectiveness of the previous year's
efforts, and condition of the city budget.
4c. Seek funding from other government and private sources to leverage Community
Housing Fund dollars to help buy down the cost of developments or to assist
Bozeman citizens entering the local housing market. --
4d. Authorize the Community Development Block Grant Loan Review Committee to
oversee the Community Housing Fund.
4e. Authorize the Community Development Block Grant Loan Review Committee to
develop a ranking system for awarding money from the Community Housing Fund.
4f. Allocate money from the Community Housing Fund according to priorities
established annually by the City Commission.
GOAL 5 - LEGISLATIVE ACTION
5. To actively lobby the state legislature for programs or policies to encourage the
development of affordable housing.
LEGISLA TIVE ACTION OBJECTIVES
5a. Work with other Montana Communities and the Montana League of Cities and
Towns to initiate or support legislation designed to provide additional flexibility or
resources to address affordable housing.
5b. This policy will be reviewed in the Fall of 1996. If satisfactory progress is not seen
in the area of affordable housing, the City Commission will reconsider the Bozeman
Area Affordable Housing Task Force information related to Inclusionary Zoning
practices.
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