Presentation to

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

11 February 2008

ADG Project Team

Peter Harris, CEO

Bob Cambric, Senior Consultant

Dustin Benedict, Project Manager

Technical Advisory Team

Leila AllenCity of Orlando, Housing Department

Carolyn BiblerBibler Design DevelopmentCharles Connerly, Ph.D.

FSU, Dept of Urban & Regional PlanningChandra Foreman

Polk County, Land Development DivisionNancy LinnanCarlton FieldsNancy Muller

Florida Housing Finance CorporationBill O’Dell

UF, Shimberg Center for Affordable HousingAllison Stewart

Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department

Avera WynneTampa Bay Regional Planning Council

With Additional Assistance From

Bill HunterFlorida Association of Community Developers

Bob Nabors Nabors Giblin & Nickerson, P.A.

Dee Carper Florida League of Cities

Doug BuckFlorida Homebuilders Association

Eric PooleFlorida Association of Counties

Georgianne Ratliff Wilson MillerJaimie Ross

Florida Housing CoalitionJulia "Alex" Magee

Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association

Melissa AkesonFlorida Regional Councils Association

Susan CaswellOrange County, Planning Department

Tom Moriarity Economic Research Associates, Washington

DC

Affordable Housing Matters

“Housing is most Americans’ largest expense. Decent and affordable housing has a demonstrable impact on family stability and the life outcomes of children. Decent housing is an indispensable building block of healthy neighborhoods, and this shapes the quality of life…better housing can lead to better outcomes for individuals, communities, and American society as a whole. In short, housing matters.”

Millennial Housing Commission

Affordable Housing Study Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of the State’s affordable housing programs and advise the Department of Community Affairs on alternative approaches that may augment and improve Florida’s affordable housing stock.

Affordable Housing Study Objectives

• The Study’s Objectives were accomplished by:

• Examining (a) Florida’s Affordable Housing Needs Assessment, (b) the Housing Element’s goals, objectives, and policies, (c) the extent to which federal, state and local housing programs have been useful in the implementation of the provisions of Chapter 163, Part II, F.S., and (d) accessory dwelling units ordinances, linkage programs, inclusionary zoning ordinances, and other emerging affordable housing, land use tools.

Affordable Housing Study Objectives

• Evaluating applicable portions of the Adequate Housing Rule of Chapter 380, Part I, F.S., and Rule 9J-2, F.A.C., to determine their effectiveness in identifying and mitigating regional, affordable housing impacts.

• Assessing potential regulatory barriers to the provision of affordable housing.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• What are the Current Shortcomings of Florida’s Affordable Housing Delivery System?

• Lack of Overall Coordination.• A need to reestablish the purpose of

the Comprehensive Plan’s Housing Element.

• A need to enhance the link between funding and the Comprehensive Plan.

• A need to determine the roles of the public and private sectors.

• A need to enhance communities’ ability to achieve mixed-income communities

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System• Chapter 163, F.S., and Rule 9J-5, F.A.C.

provide an foundation for assessing addressing housing needs; however, there are requirements used by other Growth Management states that could be considered:

• Change the Planning Timeframe from 10 to 20 years.

• Chapter 163, Part II, F.S., and Rule 9J-5, F.A.C., could be revised to require a regional, fair share approach to planning for the affordable housing needs of Floridians.

• Section 163.3177(f), F.S., and Rule 9J-5.010, F.A.C., could be amended to include a requirement that employment trends be analyzed as part of the Housing Element preparation and adoption process.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System

• Enhance adopted Housing Elements. The Study identified the following information based on a review of 176 Housing Elements:

• The Future Land Use Maps do not explicitly identify adequate sites for affordable housing. In addition, the Elements do not contain an assessment of whether the allocated residential land use categories will be adequate for the development of affordable housing.

• The Elements identify the number of substandard units that will be improved during the planning period, but do not contain tangible implementation activities or measurable outcomes to achieve the stated objective.

• The Elements identify the number of new housing units that will be needed during the planning period. However, some of the Element should specify the number of units needed by income, including the number of affordable housing units that will be needed.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System

• Enhance adopted Housing Elements. The Study identified the following information based on a review of 176 Housing Elements (continued):

• The Elements do not identify the role(s) the public and private sector will play to provide affordable housing, nor do they contain tangible implementation activities intended to produce affordable housing by each sector.

• The Elements do not address requirements such as the integration of housing and public transit, schools, or recreation/open space. Current and future population trends are identified in nearly every plan reviewed; however, very few plans have identified current and future employment trends.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System

• Enhance adopted Housing Elements. The Study identified the following information based on a review of 176 Housing Elements (continued):

• Current and future population trends are identified in nearly every plan reviewed; however, very few plans have identified current and future employment trends.

• Current and future efforts to preserve existing affordable housing units are not addressed in the Goals, Objectives and Policies or the Data and Analysis sections.

• A majority of the Elements rely solely on the Evaluation and Appraisal Report process as the only monitoring process.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System

• Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) Program has the following challenges:

• ECFRPC Housing Methodology

• Separate process for assessing affordable housing impacts.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Florida’s Growth Management System

• Other tools (Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinances, Inclusionary Zoning, Linkage Programs, Community Land Trusts, etc.) are underutilized.

• Efforts to reduce regulatory barriers could be enhanced.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Funding Programs • Changes to Small Cities CDBG Program could

aid in the production of affordable housing units. Such as:

• Rule 9B-43, F.A.C., could be amended to allow the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program to be used for the construction of new, affordable housing units.

• Rule 9B-43, F.A.C., could be amended to allow the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program to be used to acquire property to establish community land trusts.

• Rule 9B-43, F.A.C., could be amended to allow the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program to be used to establish a housing revolving loan fund that would be used locally for downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• Funding Programs • Change application

requirements to enhance consistency with the Comprehensive Plan.

• Use Florida’s State Clearinghouse Process as a tool to coordinate federal funding.

Affordable Housing Study Findings

• There is a Need for Additional Technical Assistance, Training, and Education Programs:

• Expediting and streamlining the permitting process.

• Enhancing Florida’s Affordable Housing Needs Assessment (Shimberg Center data).

• Eliminating/Reducing regulatory barriers

• Providing information on emerging techniques.

• Addressing the needs of the development/builder community.

• Ensuring adequate access to programs/funding sources.

The Report is Available online at:

www.adgonline.com215 South Monroe Street

Suite 835Tallahassee, FL 32301Voice: 850-224-4600FAX: 850-224-4630

Email: adg-info@adgonline.com

2007 Florida Affordable Housing Study

“When it comes to economic health, housing is as basic as it gets.”

Newburyport Daily News Editorial, 9/14/2005