implement” meant this was a current incentive used by the City; incentives A, B
and C were mandatory by State Statute, one being that permits for affordable
housing must be given priority, and expedited when such applications were
submitted to the City. The Committee’s recommendation to remove incentives
D, E and F were based on their meeting discussion.
Commissioner Dunn remarked that the LAHAC made its decisions utilizing
background information provided by city staff, but the Commission did not
receive that information; just the board’s recommendation document was
provided. She needed more context to vote for what was in the best interest of
the residents.
Mr. Keester-O’Mills explained that incentive D, the reservation of infrastructure
capacity for housing for very low income persons, low income persons, and
moderate income persons meant the directive from the LAHAC to staff was that
the City should reserve its infrastructure capacity, and saying no to market rate
units because the City was prioritizing the affordable units first.
As the City
already had a lot of low-income, medium-income affordable housing in those
ranges, the City should not hold off another market rate developer, hence the
recommendation to remove incentive D.
He mentioned, for incentive E,
allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning
districts, one of the reasons staff recommended that the LAHAC reject this
incentive was because the City’s zoning standards did not allow for accessory
dwelling units, though it was allowed by State statutes. City staff was working
on amendments to Lauderhill’s Land Development Regulations (LDR), and this
would be one of the discussion items to come before the Commission later.
City Attorney Rosenberg clarified an example of an accessory dwelling unit was
a mother-in-law suite, etc.
Mr. Keester-O’Mills stated incentive F, the reduction of parking and setback
requirements for affordable housing; staff recommended the LAHAC reject this
incentive to ensure new affordable housing, such as a new duplex built in an
existing community that looked and felt like surrounding houses.
Commissioner Dunn asked if staff had any idea what the City’s current
affordable housing inventory was. She knew the County put out an affordable
housing master plan, and they had certain cities listed as not having sufficient
affordable housing, so she wished staff to research that number, and relay it to
the Commission.
Mayor Grant opened the discussion to the public.
Lascelle Gourzong, Sunrise resident, asked what would qualify someone for an
affordable home in Lauderhill.
Mr. Hobbs replied there were federal, and state guidelines set forth with regard
to individuals able to access affordable housing; it was income based, as well
as based on the number of individuals residing in the household. Thus, based
on the number of occupants of the household, they set forth the maximum
income that could be earned. He noted there was a maximum amount that a
house could cost for construction in order for it to be considered affordable.
Mr. Gourzong wished to know where the information was available if he wished
