PC 03/12/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

not had a consistent policy concerning City fee waivers for affordable housing projects. Since the formation of the Affordable Housing Commission, they have worked toward developing a set of guidelines for evaluating requests for waivers of City fees. They have looked at categorizing the various types of fees charged on residential projects (the low-income housing fees, the growth impact fees, building fees). Fees not impacted are "pass-through" fees--Zone 7 fees, school impact fees. They also established criteria for evaluating proposals for fee waivers such as the number and ratio of affordable housing units in the project, the level of affordability, the term length, project amenities, quality of the project, and financial considerations. These guidelines were to maintain the City's flexibility but also give some guidelines to prospective developers. In staff's opinion, the guidelines don't increase the likelihood of granting fee waivers, but they provide a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate all fee waiver requests on a consistent basis. The Housing Commission reviewed the guidelines at two meetings, and the City Council has also reviewed the guidelines. They requested more information about the City's past policy and practices, they wanted further discussion on the affordability standards, the income targets, implications on whether or not the proposed guidelines would encourage or impede future fee waiver requests. The City Council tabled the discussion to be brought up when they have their joint meeting with the Affordable Housing Commission. The Park and Recreation Commission has requested that they be given a referral if there is a park fee waiver request. Commissioner Cooper inquired if the fee waiver was for the entire fee or could it be for a partial waiver. Mr. Erickson stated waivers have been done in a multitude of different ways, because there has been no policy. It does not have to be an "all or nothing" situation. Discussion continued regarding the reimbursement of the General Fund from the Affordable Housing Fund. This is done typically when building fees are waived, although it is not specifically called out to do the reimbursement. Commissioner Wright agreed with the above-described criteria and procedures. In response to Chair Barker, she was advised by staff that affordable housing fee per single-family unit is approximately $2,000, a multi-family residence is $680 per unit, and commercial/industrial has a 45 cent per square foot fee. These fees go into the Affordable Housing Fund. The fund has approximately $4-5 million in it, most of which is uncommitted. Chair Barker inquired if some of that uncommitted money could be used to provide more parks. Discussion continued that there must be a nexus between the money's use and low-income housing. Moderate income for-sale projects are defmed as 80-120% of the median income. This translates to an approximately $200,000 house. Commissioner Lutz inquired why the fee for the single-family house was not based on square footage of the house. Mr. Beougher advised that there was no precise calculation used to settle on this Planning Commission Minutes Page 12 Marcb 12, 1997