§ 2-87. Duties.  


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  • The Lake County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee shall have the following duties and obligations:

    (1)

    Triennially, review established policies and procedures, ordinances, the Lake County land development regulations and the adopted Lake County Comprehensive Plan and recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value.

    (2)

    The abovementioned initiative recommendations may include the modification or repeal of existing county policies, procedures, ordinances, Lake County land development regulation provisions, or Lake County Comprehensive Plan provisions; the creation of exceptions applicable to affordable housing; or the adoption of new policies, procedures, ordinances, Lake County Land Development Regulations, or county comprehensive plan provisions, including recommendations to amend the local government comprehensive plan and corresponding regulations, ordinances, or policies consistent with F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. II, the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Act.

    (3)

    At a minimum, the committee shall submit a report to the board of county commissioners that includes recommendations on and triennially evaluates the implementation of affordable housing incentives in the following areas:

    a.

    The expedited processing of approvals of development orders (any order granting, denying, or granting with conditions, an application for a development permit) or permits (any building permit, zoning permit, subdivision approval, rezoning, certification, special exception, variance, or any other official action of local government having the effect of permitting the development of land) for affordable housing projects is expedited to a greater degree than other projects.

    b.

    The modification of impact fee requirements, including reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee payment.

    c.

    The allowance of flexibility in densities for affordable housing.

    d.

    The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for extremely low income persons, very low-income persons, low-income persons, and moderate income persons.

    e.

    The reduction of parking and setback requirements.

    f.

    The allowance of flexible lot configurations, including zero-lot-line configurations for affordable housing.

    g.

    The modification of sidewalk and street requirements.

    h.

    The establishment of a process by which Lake County considers, before adoption, policies, procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, or Lake County comprehensive plan provisions that increase on the cost of housing.

    i.

    The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts.

    j.

    The preparation of a printed inventory of locally owned public land suitable for affordable housing.

    k.

    The support of development near transportation hubs, major employment centers, and mixed use developments.

    l.

    Additional incentives to be considered shall include:

    1.

    Allowing compatible multifamily housing developments in all high density residential zoning districts;

    2.

    Requiring new construction above a certain threshold to reserve a percentage of its total units for affordable housing;

    3.

    Utilizing tax increment financing techniques and other tax reduction programs;

    4.

    Participating in state and federal affordable housing and housing rehabilitation grant programs, and utilizing technical assistance programs serving affordable housing needs.

    5.

    Establishing a one-stop permitting system to lower development costs and reduce the gap between project review and construction.

    (4)

    The recommendations shall also include other affordable housing incentives identified by the advisory committee. To the maximum extent feasible, the approved affordable housing incentive recommendations submitted to the board of county commissioners must quantify the affordable housing cost reduction anticipated from implementing the specific recommendation.

    (5)

    The approval by the advisory committee of its local housing incentive strategies recommendations and its review of local government implementation of previously approved strategies must be made by affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the advisory committee taken at a public hearing. Notice of the time, date and place of the public hearing of the advisory committee to adopt the final local housing incentive strategies recommendations must be published in a newspaper of general paid circulation in the county. The notice must contain a short and concise summary of the local housing incentives strategies recommendations to be considered by the advisory committee. The notice must state the public place where a copy of the tentative advisory committee recommendations can be obtained by interested persons.

    Within ninety (90) days after the date of receipt of the local housing incentive strategies recommendations from the advisory committee, the board of county commissioners shall adopt an amendment to the Lake County Local Housing Assistance Plan to incorporate the local housing incentive strategies it will implement within its jurisdiction. The amendment must include, at minimum, the local housing incentive strategies required under F.S. § 420.9071(16). Lake County shall also consider the strategies specified in paragraphs (3)(a)—(l) above as recommended by the advisory committee.

    (6)

    Make recommendations to the board of county commissioners on requests for reduction of impact fees by qualified applicants as provided in Chapter 22, Education and Transportation Impact Fees, Lake County Code.

    (7)

    On an ongoing and continuous basis identify improvements needed to the housing delivery system in unincorporated Lake County, with particular emphasis on the provision of housing to very low, low and moderate income households.

    (8)

    Make recommendations to the board of county commissioners on distribution of county, state, and federal grant funds available to provide assistance to qualified developers and households to construct affordable housing.

    (9)

    Coordinate with the local development industry, financial institutions and governmental agencies so as to assure adequate financing is available for affordable housing, particularly for very low, low and moderate income households.

    (10)

    Analyze and recommend improvements to the SHIP Affordable Housing Programs which may comprise activities including but not limited to:

    a.

    Home purchase assistance,

    b.

    Disaster mitigation;

    c.

    Home repair, rehabilitation, and replacement;

    d.

    Public and private partnerships to improve very low, low and moderate income housing; and

    e.

    Technical assistance to private, non profit organizations serving to improve housing and neighborhood conditions.

    (11)

    Conduct public meetings and take testimony from residents and housing professionals as to existing services and facilities and any required additional services and facilities.

    (12)

    At the request of the board of county commissioners, the committee may perform other duties including:

    a.

    Provide mentoring services to affordable housing partners such as developers, banking institutions, employers and others to identify available incentives, assist with applications for funding requests, and develop partnerships between various parties.

    b.

    The creation of best practices for the development of affordable housing in the community.

    (13)

    Other tasks and functions assigned by the board of county commissioners.

(Ord. No. 1992-11, § 4, 11-24-92; Ord. No. 1996-41, § 1, 5-7-96; Ord. No. 1998-21, § 1, 3-17-98; Ord. No. 2007-57, § 2, 12-4-07)