City leaders to hear proposal for housing plan
County Commissioner Karen Seel to appear before Largo lawmakers
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
| Article published on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 |
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LARGO – A proposed Inclusionary Housing ordinance calling for the construction of affordable housing units here and elsewhere in Pinellas County will be introduced at the April 15 City Commissioners meeting.
County Commissioner Karen Seel will make the presentation on the Inclusionary Housing and the Green City Action Accord measure that will require future housing developments of 20 or more units to include a percentage of affordable housing.
The proposal also provides for a range of requirement options based on an affordability level. Density bonuses of up to 50 percent may be provided.
The incentives would be determined by existing local land development and comprehensive plan regulations. The number of Inclusionary units would be calculated on the number of total units in a proposed housing development. Additional incentives would be available from local government agencies.
Pinellas County’s 24 municipalities and unincorporated communities have been built out due to increasing populations and business growth. The loss of apartment buildings and especially mobile home parks have added to the housing problems. Rents have skyrocketed and purchasing single-family homes for many residents is nearly impossible due to an economy that includes rising living costs, but salaries that do not keep up with those expenses.
“Employees who keep us safe, teach our children and perform a variety of functions in manufacturing, tourism and service industries are finding local home ownership out of reach,” Seel said in a report that outlines the county ordinance.
Seel said many workers live outside Pinellas County and are faced with long commutes to and from work.
That, too, is causing difficulties due to increasing fuel costs that are expected to nudge $4-a-gallon by the summer.
Seel said that during the last quarter century Pinellas County officials have launched a variety of efforts to make home ownership possible. Programs such as First-time Homebuyer, Down Payment Assistance and Hometown Heroes Plus have helped. In 2005 the county even established a land trust project and a local housing trust fund, but Seel feels that more is needed.
The objective of the proposed ordinance is to use a creative approach to force a balance between a need for affordable housing without transferring costs to other home buyers.
“The goal is not to sell units below cost, but rather to produce housing that is affordable to the workforce,” Seel said in her report. “Inclusionary units must be built to high quality standards, but may be smaller in size and constructed with fewer or less costly amenities and features.”
County officials hope that the measure will create multi-income, mixed use developments that combine residential commercial, retail and green space in areas close to jobs.
It is hoped that municipal level government officials will embrace the proposed county ordinance as a means of help to provide housing.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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