BOCC Hears First of Three Affordable/Workforce Housing Presentations

BRADENTON – Manatee County's Neighborhood Services Department assembled a series of three county commission work sessions to promote what has all but disappeared from the Manatee County landscape; affordable housing. The first took place Tuesday morning.

Piloting the first of the three scheduled presentations was Jaimie Ross, President and CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition. Ross served as the Affordable Housing Director at 1000 Friends of Florida, a statewide nonprofit smart growth organization, from 1991-2015.

As a land use and real property lawyer, Ross represented both for-profit and non-profit developers as well as financial institutions. In 1991, Ross initiated the broad based coalition advocating the passage of the William E. Sadowski Act: providing a dedicated revenue source for affordable housing in Florida. She continues to facilitate the Sadowski Act Coalition to ensure state and local funding for housing programs throughout Florida today.


¥ Financing/Affordability Assurance.

"Local land use planning can make or break affordable housing," Ross said, adding that adopting minimum square footage, extensive set backs of large properties and not allowing accessory dwelling units can take the opportunity for affordable housing off the table.

Ross cited the Bungalows Project in Davidson, N.C. as one program that placed a short term moratorium on sprawl type "mega-mansions" so clusters of mixed use and mixed income development could be implemented.

Ross referenced FL statute 125.01055, which says: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a county may adopt and maintain in effect any law, ordinance, rule, or other measure that is adopted for the purpose of increasing the supply of affordable housing using land use mechanisms such as inclusionary housing ordinances.

"Affordable housing has lots of tools," said Ross. Senate Bill 586 was one she mentioned and spoke of throughout the presentation of organizations like Florida's SHIP program, CDGB, HOME and HOPWA–all programs designed for low income want-to-be homeowners.

Ross mentioned AHAC (Affordable Housing Advisory Committee) and the Sadowski Coalition for guidance to the Fair Housing Laws; so a mix of ethnicity, race and income can be factored in. She highlighted the use of the Bert Harris Act as a tool to implement diversity.

Much of what Ross spoke of was unfamiliar to the commission. Commissioner Bustle said, "I thought I knew something about affordable housing, but I see there is a lot more I didn't know." Commissioner Benac said, "What we have been doing has been by design," admitting the county's compass has been, "what's the market doing?" Ross answered, "It takes political will," noting that the governor has cut funding for affordable housing.

It was upon request by the BOCC, Neighborhood Services Department established a three-part series to hear from experts in the area of Affordable and Workforce Housing. They will also hear from local providers and users of Affordable and Workforce Housing as to current issues and concerns.

In the next two work sessions, other presenters will address the rules, regulations, and potential needs of Affordable and Workforce Housing in Manatee County. The dates for part two and three are February 16, and March 15.