Referred to:  The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chair Walter and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Uchitelle), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Chair of the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee, Eve Walter, and Deputy Chair Craig V. Lopez offer the following:

            WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County

Executive on behalf of the Department of Planning; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County’s Housing Action Plan and its Housing Smart Communities Initiative illuminates the significant housing shortages within the county and includes a recommendation to support the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); and

WHEREAS,  the New York State Housing Trust Fund (HTFC) As Part of NYS Homes and Community Renewal Has issued a request for proposals (RFP) inviting eligible  applicants to apply for funding from the Plus One ADU Program, an initiative to create and improve Accessory Dwelling  Units (ADUs) that are required to be affordable for a period on ten (10) years; and

WHEREAS, ten (10) million dollars is available to applications outside the City of New York with a maximum funding of no more than two (2) million dollars per project; and

WHEREAS, eligible applications must include partnership between a non-profit housing organization and a municipal and/or county government; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County is proposing an application that would include as partners the City of Kingston and RUPCO; and

WHEREAS, the partners have agreed that Ulster County will serve as the lead applicant with responsibilities for submittal of the application and administrative responsibility for the funding as well as the coordination role with local officials outside of the City of Kingston that includes zoning, history of violations; and

WHEREAS, the partners have agreed that the City of Kingston will assume the coordination roll for local approvals within the City of Kingston as noted above; and

WHEREAS, the partners have agreed that RUPCO will assume the responsibilities of determining income qualification of applicants, securing the services of appropriate design professionals, working with individual homeowners, construction oversight, etc.; and

WHEREAS,  if awarded, together the partners will develop a more detailed work program that formalizes their respective responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County, together with the partners are eligible to apply for up to $2,00,000.00 for the Plus One ADU Program  and recognizing that no more than $125,000.00; shall be made available for each ADU created; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Executive or his designee is hereby authorized to submit an application, as well as all necessary understandings, assurances, and additional information as may be required, to the New York State Office of Community Renewal for the Plus One ADU Program consistent with the funding levels, purposes, and other criteria as provided for in the Request for Applications; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Executive or his designee is hereby authorized to submit any and all necessary understandings, assurances and additional information as may be required by the City of Kingston and/or RUPCO as partners in the application; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that Ulster County in keeping with past policy will not take any administrative expenses in relation to this funding if awarded,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:          

Passed Committee:  Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on _______________.

Passed Committee:  Health, Human Services and Housing on ______________.

Passed Committee:  Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$ 2,000.000.00 – ADDITIONAL REVENUE DOLLARS (PASS THROUGH NYS HOUSING TRUST FUND CORP.)