MINUTES  CITY COUNCIL HOUSING COMMITTEE Tuesday, August 13, 2024-3:45PM City Hall Council Chambers  Members Present: Aaron Baker, Vice Chair, City Council Member  Victor Foster, Citizen Member Mayor Maureen Copelof, Ex-Officio  Members Absent: Pamela Holder, Chair, City Council Member  Staff Present:  Wilson Hooper, City Manager Emily Brewer, Planner Denise Hodsdon, City Clerk Sara VanLear, DFI  Dean Luebbe, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Becky McCann, Communications Coordinator  Guest:  A. Welcome and Call to Order  Aaron Bakerwelcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 3:46 PM.  B. Certification of Quorum  Quorum was certified by City Clerk Denise Hodsdon.  A Approval of Agenda  Mr. Baker asked to remove Item E. Update on BDRPCI Project and to add Public Comment as Item F. Mr. Foster moved, seconded by Mr. Baker to approve the agenda as  amended. The motion carried unanimously. D. Approval of Minutes -) June 11, 2024 Meeting  Mr. Foster moved, seconded by Mr. Baker to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2024  meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously.  E. Property Disposition Strategy  Mr. Hooper explained that one oft the ways, governments have been encouraged to supportaffordable housing has been to do an inventory oft the properties that they own    and to dispose oft those they don'tneed, whether that is via a gift or low-cost sale to an affordable housing developer, or a sale to a market-rate buyer and using those proceeds to fund affordable housing. He asked Ms. Brewer to present information on some oft the properties that the city owns and asked for the committee's recommendation on possible disposal ofthose properties. Ms. Brewer presented a PowerPoint presentation that included four city-owned properties and how we might be able to dispose oft these unused properties that are unsuitable for larger housing development, through a competitive sale to fund future affordable housing initiatives. Staffbelieves by moving forward with this strategy we would be able to address two important, goals: it supports our ongoing affordable housing programs and initiatives by gettinga additional funding ini the Housing' Trust Fund, but also makes it: sO that we can pursue additional projects that create new affordable units. Staffhas identified the following four 1. James Street- - the property isl located next to the intersection of) James St. and W. Main St. This was initially donated to the City for the purpose of creating housing and the previous Housing Committee had recommended giving the property to Habitat for Humanity, but due to some issues with the title, Habitat was not interested in the property. The City Attorney is working on clearing the title and staff believes the property would be a great candidate for competitive sale. 2. Cashiers Valley Road - 8.8 acre parcel located next to Public Works. The Public Works Director has indicated that he would need a % to 1-acre portion oft this property for future expansion, which would still leave a significant amount ofland for competitive sale. This parcel was initiallyacquired for affordable housing purposes but has been reviewed by DFI and was deemed unsuitable foral large affordable! housing project as it would be cost-prohibitive due to the steep: slopes and the Duke utility easement that runs along the front of the property. There is still development potential for this property, just not for affordable housing. 3. Cashiers Valley Road - a 1.37 acre parcel located on the other side oft the Public Works site. The property is currently split-zoned and located partially in the ETJ sO itwould most likely need tol be fully annexed into the city limits and possiblya 4. Avacant lot by the' Tannery - a .85 acre parcel currently zoned as Institutional Campus. The greenway will go along the eastern edge of the property and we may need some of the parcel for access to the greenway. Itwas initially discussed asa parking lot or entry point for the greenway, but with all thei improvements that have been made to that area and the parking lot now there, staffbelieve it could have a Following discussion Mr. Baker said he would prefer to keep thel larger Cashiers Valley Road lot and the Tannery lot until we explore and exhaust all possibilities. He said he would be interested in hearing what Habitat or Housing Assistance Corp. would say aboutas smaller-scale affordable development for the' Tannery parcel. Mr. Foster  properties for the committee's consideration:  rezoning toi increase the density to GR8.  higher use.  Minutes Housing Committeel Meeting August 13,2024  Page2of3    moved, seconded by Mr. Baker to recommend disposal of the James Street property and the: smaller Cashiers Valley Road lot pending outstanding issues being resolved. The Mr. Hooper recommended that even if we don'tend up selling the' Tannery parcel and the larger Cashiers Valley Road parcel, it would be beneficial to go ahead and carve off  motion carried unanimously.  and reserve the property that we need from both parcels now.  F. Public Comment  John Roberts introduced himself as a new resident and said he is interested in learning Mayor Copelofreported that she attended the WNC Housing Summit last week and brought back information and some ideas ofhow to use: some ofour! housing funds.  more about the city's efforts tol look at affordable housing.  G. Set Date for Next Meeting  The date ofthe next meeting is to be determined.  H. Closed Session  At 4:44 pm Mr. Foster moved, seconded by Mr. Wise to enter closed session to discussa propertyacquisition matter. The motion carried unanimously. Authorized to remain for the closed session with committee members were City Manager Wilson Hooper, City Clerk Denise Hodsdon, Senior Planner Emily Brewer, and Sara Van Lear of DFI. At! 5:05 pm the committee resumed the meeting in open session. No official action was taken in closed session and the minutes oft the closed session are authorized to be  sealed. - Adjourn  There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 pm.  Minutes Approved: September 9, 2024  xlenfbbr Aaron Baker City Council Member  X Dnidpiaime  Denise Hodsdon City Clerk  Minutes - Housing Committee Meeting - August 13, 2024  Page3of3