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<br />HRA BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: <br /> <br />Review Results of Housing Survey <br /> <br />Associate Planner Geisler stated staff has completed a survey of City Council members, <br />Commissioners, Management Staff, and a random sample of City residents, and is now ready to <br />bring the results to the HRA for discussion. The purpose of the survey was to generate a list of <br />housing-related goals and objectives to assist the HRA and staff in drafting a Housing Plan for <br />the City. Ms. Geisler advised overall, increasing neighborhood walkability and property <br />maintenance/code enforcement were the top two issues among all survey respondents. There <br />was support among residents for maintaining an owner-occupied to rental housing mix of <br />90/100. Many suggested road/highway improvement before any more housing is built in the <br />community. There was also significant SUppolt for the development of additional senior <br />housing. Ms. Geisler advised the lowest-ranked issues were all related to the development of <br />rental and/or affordable housing. There were many negative comments related to rental and <br />affordable housing, the people who live there, and their perceived negative impact on the <br />community. It seems clear that if the City wishes to encourage the development of this type of <br />housing, educational and outreach efforts will be necessary to demonstrate its importance to the <br />community. Ms. Geisler indicated the HRA has been provided with a summary sheet of the <br />survey results. <br /> <br />Commissioner Elvig stated he is caught in a conundrum. There were strong comments about not <br />wanting more townhouses in the City and a need for lower density, but also on the other side of <br />having problems with taxes and unaffordable larger lots with a need for more affordable housing <br />and senior housing. Those statements are in direct opposition to each other. What he is reading <br />from this survey is that people do not understand what density does to affordability and vice <br />versa. Better plans and designs and a better quality density might be more acceptable. There <br />seems to be an education process that is missing, and Ramsey3 is a wonderful opportunity to <br />focus on that. <br /> <br />Chairperson Olson stated she had exactly the same impression that there is a long way to go as <br />far as educating people on how the size of the land they live on impacts their taxes and what the <br />City can afford to do. The question is where they go from here with this information. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gamec observed every category of this survey includes a need for senior housing. <br />He attended a seminar with law enforcement that related housing and crime rates and obtaining <br />the right mix. He believes they have a good mix in Ramsey. There are more factors than just <br />creating a certain type of housing; senior housing is important. <br /> <br />Chairperson Olson noted part of this relates to ownership versus rental; she is not certain how <br />senior rentals would be included in that mix. <br /> <br />Commissioner Look noted the survey included a lot of comments regarding rental property, He <br />has conducted research regarding a New Jersey Court of Appeals ruling which states that <br />municipalities do not have the power to deny or regulate a property owner's right to rent in an <br />effort to alter community dynamics, and they do not have the power to control the ratio of <br /> <br />Housing and Redevelopment Authority / February 27, 2007 <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />