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

Legislators Laura Petit and John Parete offer the following:

WHEREAS, Housing availability and affordability and public transportation are vital to the social and economic sustainability of our community; providing a range of affordability to support our people at all ages and stages of life; enable seniors who wish to securely age in place; assist families with children who are looking for stability; and encourage hardworking employees who deserve opportunity and choices to stay local; and

WHEREAS, affordable housing improves our neighborhoods by promoting stability and maintaining diversity; assuring the quality of the built environment and neighborhood character; and reinforcing efficient transportation and land use policies, and strengthens our economy by enhancing our market competitiveness by assuring employers access to workers they need for a variety of jobs; providing better access for workers to homes near their jobs; and allowing consumers the flexibility to spend less of their income on housing; and

WHEREAS, it will be necessary to create an Affordable Housing Master Plan (AHMP) to define the County’s affordable housing policy and enables educated Legislative response to the current and future needs of residents of all levels of income in the County. The plan shall include the context for affordable housing inclusive of young families, seniors and the workforce through an analysis of current and future housing needs to establish affordable housing policies; and

WHEREAS, a Review of Surplus Land Inventory and Inventory List will provide an inventory of county-owned real property which may be appropriate for affordable housing projects and/or expansion of residential inclusionary housing to cover transient and commercial development in the County; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature wishes to establish a Housing Committee (“Committee”), consisting of seven (7) members and designating a member as Chair of the Committee to review housing related issues including transportation, make goals that are conceptual statements that express the County’s overarching views, and set policies that are the approaches or initiatives that form the basis of the County’s efforts to implement that support the County’s vision of affordable housing recommendations to the full Legislature over the next year; and

WHEREAS, having an adequate supply of housing for the community’s needs will ensure that all segments of the community have access to housing ensuring that housing efforts contribute to a sustainable community; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Ulster County is committed to taking the lead in addressing housing; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Housing Committee be established for the purpose of taking a comprehensive approach to implement future policies and programs at the County government level by creating an Affordable Housing Master Plan (AHMP) to define the County’s affordable housing policy and enables educated Legislative response to the current and future needs of residents of all levels of income in the County. The plan shall include the context for affordable housing inclusive of young families, seniors and the workforce through an analysis of current and future housing needs to establish affordable housing policies; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the membership of the Housing Committee shall be comprised of seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Legislature: (1) one representative from a housing organization; (2) one Legislator from the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning & Transit Committee; (3) one Legislator from the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee; (4) one Legislator from Health and Social Services Committee; (5) one representative from the business community; (6) one representative from town or village government, and (7) one at large representative from the community; and, be it further

RESOLVED, after consultation with and approval of the County Executive, the Housing Committee will seek input from the Ulster County Department of Planning, the Department of Public Transportation (UCAT) and the Department of Economic Development; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the County Executive may appoint staff from the Executive branch of government to assist the Housing Committee in its work,

and move its adoption.                                                                 

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                     NOES:         

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on February 4, 2020 without consent

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on March 3, 2020 with consent

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on April 14, 2020 with consent

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE