§ 62-6302. Affordable housing incentives.

To meet the needs of county residents for affordable housing, a variety of incentives are provided. These incentives are listed below, along with the percentage of the units in the entire development which must meet the standards of affordable housing as defined in this Code. This article and section of the land development regulations shall supersede when conflicted with other articles and sections of the land development regulations.

(1)

Affordable/workforce housing project team (AWHT). Developments in which 30 percent or more of the entire project is affordable as designated by the Code can receive the assistance of the county's affordable/workforce housing team. The team will provide technical assistance to facilitate the movement of the project through the necessary permitting procedures. Priority use of the team resources will be given to developments with affordable units, and a longer period of affordability. The team will consist of staff from the following offices and departments and include, but is not limited to: land development, planning and zoning, natural resources management, housing and human services, traffic engineering and transportation planning (MPO).

The AWHT shall review architectural elevations, site plan and subdivision designs and specifications, and when needed make written recommendations in report form to the applicant that would enhance the development and complement surrounding neighborhoods. Contact with the affordable/workforce housing team shall be made through the affordable/workforce housing coordinator.

(2)

Design review guidelines for affordable and workforce housing. The AWHT team will make written recommendations in report form, when needed, based on the requirements of the land development regulations and the design guidelines listed below. Recommendations may be appealed to the board of county commissioners.

Design guidelines:

a.

Developments include a range of unit types, sizes and numbers of bedrooms;

b.

Buildings are aligned and close to the street or main drives;

c.

Buildings form and protect private open space;

d.

Buildings have front porches and balconies;

e.

Property lines are defined by fences, hedges, and garden walls;

f.

Vehicle parking and storage, garbage, and mechanical equipment are away from the street;

g.

When possible buildings are rear or side loaded when garages are proposed;

h.

Building architecture responds to and reflects the regional climate and culture;

i.

The building(s) have a contemporary or vernacular style front elevation in keeping with the existing character of the neighborhood;

j.

Building walls visible from a public street, major pedestrian corridor or public open space include architectural features such as windows, and trim;

k.

Street-facing building facades do not have a section of blank wall exceeding 30 linear feet without being interrupted by a window or entry;

l.

Windows and doors are proportioned to, and integrated with the facade modulation, establishing clear vertical and, or horizontal hierarchy and patterns in the placement of openings and assemblies;

m.

Details or elements are integral to the design and reflect the structural or material integrity of the building, rather than appearing added on;

n.

Front entrance areas are easily recognizable from the street and include a welcoming architectural feature that shows the relationship of the private home to the street;

o.

Porches are covered and extend at least ten feet along the front wall of the house, not including the garage face. The depth of the porch shall be at least six feet in depth. Porches are raised or at ground level. Porch floors are of a hard surface material such as concrete, wood, tile, brick, or flat stone. Porches are integral architectural feature with the main structure and incorporate railings;

p.

Buildings have a strong street presence, with public entrances and front doors oriented toward the street, or to a public pathway adjacent to open space;

q.

Privacy between units is maintained by locating windows away from windows in adjacent units;

r.

Universal design concepts are applied in the design and construction of development sites, buildings and units, especially first or ground floor units. Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The intent is to simplify daily life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built interior and exterior environment more usable, by as many people as possible, at little or no extra cost, to the benefit of people of all ages and abilities.

(3)

Permit review and recording fee refunds. All developments with affordable housing units shall be eligible for refund of county review and recording fees (e.g. planning, building, engineering, clerk of courts), from available funds administered by the county department of housing and human services, as permitted by law. Refunding of permit review and recording fees shall not result in a loss of fee revenues for county departments involved in development review. Developments will be eligible to request a refund of review and recording fees only for the units designated as affordable, contingent upon the availability of funds. This does not include impact fees, facility investment fees, connection fees or similar fees.

(4)

Application for fee refund. Applicants seeking fee refunds shall submit an application to the affordable/workforce housing coordinator who will assist the applicant in working with the proper county department.

(5)

Affordability agreement. The applicant shall enter into a land use and deed restriction affordability agreement with the county. The affordability agreement shall provide the number and designation level of affordable units, and period of time as affordable, for the development to seek fee refunds according to the terms and conditions of the agreement, consistent with the written policies and procedures established by the board of county commissioners. A land trust may be used as a mechanism to retain units as affordable and/or special needs units.

(Ord. No. 07-18, § 4, 5-3-07)