Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Archer, Corcoran, Delaune, Litts, Maio, and Uchitelle)

Chairman of the Legislature, David B. Donaldson, and Legislators Cahill, Parete and Petit offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on behalf of the Ulster County Department of Planning; and

WHEREAS, the availability of safe, decent and affordable housing for all residents of the County is vital to the social and economic sustainability of our community; and

WHEREAS, providing a range of affordability to support individuals of all ages and stages of life that: enable seniors to securely age in place; assist families with children to meet their housing needs; and allow younger generations to access housing so that they can remain local requires a public policy response from the County; and

WHEREAS, a healthy housing mix improves our neighborhoods by: promoting stability and maintaining diversity; assuring the quality of the built environment and neighborhood character; reinforcing efficient transportation and land use policies, assuring employers access to workers they need for a variety of jobs; providing workers housing near their jobs; and creating the flexibility of housing options that are available within their income range; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a strategic approach to address the critical housing issues facing Ulster County, that broadens the understanding of the components of a healthy housing mix for all stakeholders; that enables informed participation, and provides decision-makers with programmatic and regulatory responses that address the issues of the creation of housing in line with economic development goals and with a focus on affordability; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature in collaboration with the County Executive wishes to establish an Advisory Committee on Housing to assist in formulating housing policies through the development of a Housing Action Plan (‘the Plan”)that enables an educated Legislative response to the current and future housing needs of residents of all levels of income in the County; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature authorizes the Chair of the Legislature in collaboration with the County Executive to form an Advisory Committee on Housing to assist in the development of a Housing Plan (“the Plan”) that will provide for future policies and programs at the County government level to define the County’s housing policies and enable an educated Legislative response to the current and future housing needs of residents at all levels of income in the County; and, be it further

RESOLVED, after consultation with and approval of the County Executive, the Ulster County Department of Planning, will lead the Plan effort utilizing the Advisory Committee on Housing and other County Departments as appropriate to assist and guide the development of the Plan,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:        

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$ 29,000.00 – 2020 APPRORIATION DOLLARS – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES