§ 16-57. County affordable housing advisory committee.

(a)

There hereby created the Hernando County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, whose members shall be appointed by resolution of the board of county commissioners.

(b)

The committee shall consist of eleven (11) members. Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum. The committee may not take formal actions unless a quorum is present but may meet to hear presentations if duly noticed. The committee shall include the following, which individuals may overlap with or be a part of the Local Housing Partnership referred to in F.S. § 420.9071(16):

(1)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing;

(2)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing;

(3)

One (1) citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing;

(4)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged designated as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing;

(5)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing;

(6)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing;

(7)

One (1) citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing.

(8)

One (1) citizen who actively serves on the local planning agency pursuant to F.S. § 163.3174;

(9)

One (1) citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments

(10)

One (1) citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction;

(11)

One (1) citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan

(c)

Members shall serve for two-year terms and may be reappointed for subsequent terms.

(d)

Meetings shall be held monthly for the first year of committee existence and quarterly, or more frequently as necessary thereafter.

(e)

The committee shall comply with the government in the Sunshine Law, the public records law and the special provisions regarding notice of plan considerations found in F.S. ch. 420. Minutes of the meeting will be kept by the clerk to the board.

(f)

The committee shall annually elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and such other offices as it deems necessary. The chairperson is charged with the duty of conducting the meetings in a manner consistent with law.

(g)

Staff, administrative and facility support for the advisory committee shall be provided by the board of county commissioners and the Hernando County Housing Authority.

(h)

The advisory committee shall have the following duties:

(1)

Triennially review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and adopted comprehensive plan and shall recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value. The recommendations may include the modification or repeal of existing policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions; the creation of exceptions applicable to affordable housing; or the adoption of new policies, procedures, regulations, ordinances, or plan provisions, including recommendations to amend the comprehensive plan and corresponding regulations, ordinances, and other policies. At a minimum, the committee shall submit a report to the county commission that includes recommendations on, and triennially thereafter evaluates the implementation of, affordable housing incentives in the following areas;

a.

The processing of approvals of development orders or permits, as defined in F.S. § 163.3164(7) and (8), for affordable housing projects is expedited to a greater degree than other projects.

b.

The modification of impact fee requirements, including reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee payment for affordable housing.

c.

The allowance of flexibility in densities for affordable housing.

d.

The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing of very low-income, low-income persons, and moderate income persons.

e.

The allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zoning districts.

f.

The reduction of parking and setback requirements for affordable housing.

g.

The allowance of flexible lot configuration, including zero-lot-line configurations for affordable housing.

h.

The modification of street requirements for affordable housing.

i.

The establishment of a process by which the local government considers before adoption, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that increase the cost of housing.

j.

The preparation of a printed inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing.

k.

The support of development near transportation hubs and major employment centers and mixed-use developments.

(2)

Make recommendations approval by a majority of its membership at a public hearing. Notice of the time, date and place of the public hearing of the advisory committee to adopt a final affordable housing incentive recommendations shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the county before the scheduled hearing. The notice of the public hearing must contain a short, concise summary of the affordable housing initiative recommendations to be considered by the advisory committee. The notice shall also state the place where a copy of the tentative advisory committee recommendations can be obtained.

(Ord. No. 2008-10, § VII, 5-20-08)