Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting 5/15

I had been wanting to attend the City of Lake Worth Affordable housing Task Force Meeting for a while now and I was able to find time last Monday night to attend. It is a little confusing in that the Affordable Housing Task Force meets at the same time as the Electric Task Force - at 5:30 p.m. in the same building. In case you want to attend either, the Affordable Housing Task Force meets in the Conference Room - the smaller room adjacent to the Commission Chambers - and the Electric Task Force meets in the larger Commission Chambers.

Now, I am not one that usually likes to point things like this out, but the item that appears on agenda "New State Legislation Discussion with City Attorney" does not mention which legislation, what Bill #, etc. Ironically, Annabeth Karson is a member of this committee. So, just so that we are sure what this item is referring to, I provide the link to the actual Bill (HB 1363 - 2006) for reference. The link below is the agenda for that meeting:

http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C1
6%7D/uploads/%7B885D0D22-E5E0-4A00-A6E3-F176AE227CED%7D.PDF



http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=
_h1363er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1363&Session=2006

HB 1363

Affordable Housing: Provides for disposition of county property, municipal property, & state lands for affordable housing; decreases the age and increases the income threshold required for eligibility to defer ad valorem property taxes; authorizes district school boards to provide affordable housing for teachers and other district personnel; creates the Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program, etc.

As the Task Force reviewed the above legislation,, one of the provisions included the encouragement of accessory dwellings in single family residential areas. There was much discussion about the prospect of this change for Lake Worth and some of the implications. Right now, the City's "single family" districts restrict development to just that - single family residences. There was discussion on how this could be regulated so that owner residency in one of the structures could be assured (homestead designation?).

An interesting sidelight to this is that at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on May 17, Linda Mahonney (member of the Affordable Housing Task Force) was in attendance and Peter Timm (a mainstay at most public meetings in Lake Worth). An item appeared on our agenda that concerned the re-establishment of a multiple family dwelling after its demolition - in the City's "SF-7" zoning district. The essence of zoning is that, over time, all structures and uses will come into conformance with the underlying zoning district - that is that "non-conforming uses" and "non-conforming structures" through attrition, will eventually fall in line. Unfortunately, we couldn't help the property owner in this case due to the above principle. However, I did mention that there is hope, mentioning the State legislation discussed at the Affordable Housing Task Force meeting in that accessory residential structures in single family district may be encouraged.

Under public comment, Peter Timm got up and nearly went off at the prospect of this and I referred to the discussion held the previous Monday at the Affordable Housing Task Force meeting. I assured him that it wasn't City-policy - yet, but that it was something that was discussed at the meeting. After that, I think that Linda Mahonney took Peter Timm out in the hall to give him the low-down.

Funny, no?

By the way, I think the Affordable Housing Task Force is doing great work and it really makes sense for a group to just look at this topic and make recommendations on how the city can help promote and provide affordable housing opportunities in our community.

Oh, and let me know if the links work. I am still a little new to this. If they happen not to work, you can still cut/copy and paste them into your browser and get to them that way.

Later.

"Political advertisement paid for and approved by Wes Blackman for Commissioner – District #3"