AG 2001 04 23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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less than $50,000.00. Finally, Mr. Lentz stated the HOME Program and Community Development Rousing Rehabilitation Program help to maintain and keep existing houses in,he affordable housing market. Mr. Marshal! also addressed the housing affordability issue. He stated mobile homes are a main source of affordable housing in the County and that the UDO would not affect the placement of mobile homes on individual parcels in the county. Further, Mr. Marshall advised there is a l~rge stock of affordable housing in ~he county, with new units valued at less than $75,000.00 continuing to be built and existing units rehabilitated. He stated the UDO would not increase the cost of a house in the rural area of Cabarrus County, but requirements such as sidewalks and road standards would increase the cost of a home in the more dense areas. Finally, he stated that housing affordabilit¥ is a larger issue that needs to be addressed in greater detail. Staff responded to a number of queshions regarding the proposed UDO. Specific issues discussed by the Board and staff included ~he following: (1) Rental units and apartments as a source of affordable housing; (2) Importance of home ownership and the need to meke sure that home ownership does not go out of reach for the ~normal' person in Cabarrus County~ (3) Purpose of the UDO, including the placement of all land development ordinances under a single cover and the unification of zoning and other land use ordinances between Jurisdictions; (4) Conveyance of proper~y to family ~embers and/or other persons~ (S) Need to have a balance between the lower price homes to provide affordable housing and encouragement of high end housing opportunities .to help pay for schools; (6) other costs associated with homes such as cost of land and ut[littes~ (7) Review process for future amendments to the UDO~ and (S} Differing standards between the cities and the County.. Chairman Fennel opened the meeting for c~mments and questions by those persons tn attendance. Mr. Ken Payee, homebuilder, stated in his opinion =he proposed would increase the cos= cf houses being built in the county. Mr. James Scarborough, attorney, addressed the following concerns: (1) connectivity issue and associated costs~ (2) elimination of oul de saos~ (3) increased costs associated with required sidewalks, open space, etc.~ and (4) preliminary plat requirements by the City of Concord. Mr. ~ary Troutman of Trout~an Builders commented on increased costs that would result from UDO regulations and stated local builders could not afford those costs. He stated tn his opinion the County should ha~e revised existing requlations rather than drafting the new ordinance. Mt. Mike Qulokel, President of the Cabarr~e County Building Industry Association, presented a letter for the record stating the building industry does no~ support the UDO. He also presented a Position Paper from the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition {REBIC) outlining opposition to the UDO and che adequate public facilities requirements. ~cording to Mr. Quickel, the UDO wi1! increase the cost Of housing which will be passed along to she consumer, thus making it difficult for local res/dents to find affordable housing tn Cabarrus County. The letter as submitted by Mr. Quickel was as follows= April 10, 2S01 Cabarrns County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 707 Concord, NC 28026-0707 Re~ Unified Development Ordin~nce ~entlemen: The Cabarrus County Building Industry Association urges you to vote against adoption of t_he Unified Development Ordinance. Instead of achieving =he original purpose of simply makin~ the zoning ordinances consistent throughout the County, the proposed UD~ represents a comprehensive revision of our entire se= of land use ordinances. Our current ordinances are being replaced by ordinances based on a planning and zoning philosophy which should be carefu!lY examined. The proposed U~O is based on =he doc=rises of a group of urban plauners known as "new urbanists". Attached is a copy of an article by Stephen Hay~ard entitled, 'Legends of the Sprawl- in which Mr. Hay~ard e~mines the philosophy behind "new urbanism". According to Mr. Hayward, this liberal