TITLE: Title
Discussion and Adoption of a Strategy to use Town-Owned Land for Affordable Housing
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Town Council to discuss and consider adopting a strategy to use Town-owned land to create affordable housing.
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DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Services
CONTACT INFORMATION: Anne-Marie Vanaman, Management Specialist, amvanaman@carrboronc.gov; Rebecca Buzzard, Housing and Community Director, rbuzzard@carrboronc.gov
INFORMATION: The proposed strategy document (Attachment E) for using town-owned land to develop affordable housing provides a process for town-owned land use that is centered in previous Town Council official action, the current affordable housing goals and strategies document, the draft comprehensive plan, and the Town's priorities of racial equity and climate action. It is also based on staff experience developing the Hill Street parcel, as well as the best practices of other municipalities who utilize public land to create affordable housing (Attachment D).
On June 19, 2018 the Town Council received a staff update on the potential use of town-owned land for developing affordable housing, which included an assessment of Town parcels to determine which ones would be suitable for development. Based on this assessment, the Town Council supported the use of three parcels that were identified as suitable for development to be used for affordable housing: Hill Street, Crest Street and Pathway Drive. Information about these parcels can be found in the background information document (Attachment B).
On November 17, 2021, the Affordable Housing Advisory Commission (AHAC) reviewed the draft strategy document and provided feedback. The AHAC noted the overall significance of proactively building affordable housing and that building on Town-owned land provides the opportunity for a community-driven development process, rooted in the Town's vision that there is a home for everyone in Carrboro.
The AHAC re...
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