Agenda - Council - 11/27/1984 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Section II. Specific Comments and Recommendations For-Sale Housing. (pages 11-12). The AMM agrees that there is an "affordable housing problem" for many persons, but the background material probably overstate the problem. Since the median represents the middle, many people with lower incomes can still purchase housing· The AMM does not believe that irrespective of income, it is an inalienable right for all persons to purchase the "dream house" in the "dream location"· Nor is its Nor's obligation to fulfill that expectation. Also, while it is generally true that "first time" buyers are hardest hit because of the high interest rates of recent years, it may not be much easier for "roll over" buyer to move "upward" in housing. Policy on 1 page 11 is acceptable to the AMM but the background material should be clarified. Rental Housing. (pages 12-13). The AMM agrees with the policy goal (more affordable rental units be built or added to existing housing stock) but has reservations how this policy will be used by the Council in "Policy 34" type reviews in terms of accessory housing ordinances. The problem of "protective covernances" over which the city has no control can also be a problem· Policy 2 should be modified and softened to recognize the importance and desires of residents to maintain the character of their neighborhoods and property values· Reduced Housing Costs (page 14). In the background material under lot size or density, the first sentence should be rewritten to clarify that the lot size or density is the factor that can most easily by influenced or controlled by a city. The AMM notes that a correction is needed in the last paragraph on page 14. Add the words "per acre" after units in the fourth line. In the paragraph dealing with garages, the AMM believes it should be rewritten, as follows: "Local land use regulations should not require the construction of garages· However, the regulations should require the placement of the house on the lot so that a garage could be built at a later date". Life Cycle Housing - Trends in housing Types and Preferences· (pages 19-20)· One of the thrusts of the revised housing chapter is to promote different types of attached and multifamily housing to provide more affordable housing· This type of housing probably is cheaper to build, but for some reason, it might cost more to purchase. It is the AMM's feeling that other factors (no maintenance, no snow shoveling, location, prestige, etc.) have more influence on the purchase price than the cost of -5-