Minutes_Long Range Plannng Advisory Commission 11 13 18 Copyrighted
December 17, 2018
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: Cable N Commission of 12/5; City Council Proceedings
of 12/3; Community Development Advisory Commission of
10/17, 11/28; Five Flags Civic CenterAdvisory
Commission of 11/26; Historic Preservation Commission of
11/5; Housing Commission of 11/27; Human Rights
Commission of 11/5; Library Board of Trustees Council
Update #177 of 11/29; Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission of 11/13; Park and Recreation
Advisory Commission of 11/13; Zoning Advisory
Commission of 12/5; Zoning Board of Adjustment of 11/15;
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 11/5,
11/19; Proof of Publication for List of Claim and Summary
of Revenues for Month Ending 10/31 .
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Cable N Commission Minutes of 12/5/18 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 12/3/18 Supporting Documentation
CDAC Minutes of 10/17/18 Supporting Documentation
CDAC Minutes of 11/28/18 Supporting Documentation
Five Flags Civic Center Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
11/26/18
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 11/15/18 Supporting Documentation
Housing Commission Minutes of 11/27/18 Supporting Documentation
Human Rights Commission Minutes of 11/5/18 Supporting Documentation
Libary Board of Trustees Council Update#177 of Supporting Documentation
11/29/18
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
11/13/18
Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
11/13/18
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 12 5 18 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 11/15/18 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
11/5/18
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
11/19/18
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for ME 10/31/18
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MINUTES
CITY OF DUBUQUE LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson John Pregler; Commissioners Ron Collins,
Charlie Winterwood, and Michael Wright.
Commissioners Excused: None.
Commissioners Unexcused: Alan Vincent.
Staff Members Present: Laura Carstens, Alexis Steger and Crenna Brumwell.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Pregler at 5:34
p.m.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance
verifying that the meeting was being held in compliance with the lowa Open Meetings
Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Wright, seconded by Collins, to approve the minutes of the
October 17, 2018, Long Range Planning Advisory Commission meeting as submitted.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Winterwood, Wright and Pregler;
Nay — None.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Review of Proposed Urban Revitalization Plans: Staff Member Carstens noted that
there were many questions from Commissioners at the October meeting regarding the
review of the two proposed Urban Revitalization Plans, so staff prepared the enclosed
background information to respond to those questions prior to the Commission
considering each case. She introduced Alexis Steger, the new Housing and Community
Development Director, and Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney.
Chairperson Pregler summarized that at the previous meeting their questions centered
around the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Source of Income, and how they
would be addressed within a collective impact model when many programs are in
separate silos. Staff Member Carstens noted that one role of the Commission is to
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 2
November 13, 2018
review proposed urban revitalization plans for consistency with the Comprehensive
Plan.
Staff Member Carstens explained the City's Urban Revitalization Program for the
revitalization of residential properties in the community's older neighborhoods offers a
10-year property tax exemption for new improvements made to qualified residential
properties and limited commercial properties. She added that housing developers
requesting Urban Revitalization Designation to support quality, affordable housing
developments must submit a petition for designation to the City.
Staff Member Carstens explained that the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program
(also called Section 8) is the federal governmenYs major program to assist families and
individuals in finding decent, safe, and affordable housing in the private sector. She
noted the program is administered and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). She added that the HCV provides participants with choice
of housing, and that HUD allows the City to have exception rent areas to have more
housing choices on the south and west sides of town.
Staff Member Carstens explained that eligible applicants for the HCV program must
earn no more than 50°k of the Average Median Income (AMI) for Dubuque according to
the Eligibility Guidelines set forth by HUD. She noted that the HCV program is the
primary way the City provides affordable housing options for low income (<50°k AMI)
and very low income (<30°k AMI) households in Dubuque, but there are not enough
vouchers for all the households in need. She noted the City of Dubuque is entitled to
1 ,072 vouchers, but HUD estimates there are about 5,600 households in Dubuque
below 50°k Area Median Income, who would income qualify for housing assistance.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program
is the largest source of new affordable housing in the US. She noted it does not provide
housing subsidies, but rather tax incentives. She explained the developers build the
housing and agree to rent the housing at an affordable rent that is usually below market,
such as >20°k of the units occupied by tenants at <50°k AMI, or >40°k of units occupied
by tenants at <60°k AMI. She also noted that the LITHC program is an important
partnership method for the City to provide affordable housing options for low income
(<50°k AMI) and very low income (<30°k AMI) households throughout Dubuque.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed lowa's LIHTC program has an extensive application
process that includes consideration of a projecYs proximity to community services. She
explained lowa's LIHTC program also identifies opportunity areas as part of the State of
lowa's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. She referred to a series of
maps that show the locations of affordable housing projects in relationship to various
community services and opportunity areas. She explained the City of Dubuque now
requires housing developers to accept HCV participants in conjunction with approval of
an affordable housing development agreement related to an urban revitalization plan.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 3
November 13, 2018
Staff Member Carstens explained that the Dubuque community's vision for the future is
found in the 110 recommendations included in Imagine Dubuque 2037: A Call to Action,
the City of Dubuque's new Comprehensive Plan that are based on over 12,500 ideas
from 6,000 participants. She reviewed the Comprehensive Plan's recommendations that
relate most closely to the affordable housing projects under consideration are found in
Chapter 3 - Economic Prosperity, Chapter 6 — Housing, and Chapter 9 - Land Use.
ACTION ITEMS:
Creation of Radford Road Urban Revitalization Plan (Tabled): Staff Member Carstens
introduced Richard Sova from Landover Corporation. She reviewed that on August 24,
2018 Landover Corporation submitted a request to the City to consider designating
1895 Radford Road an Urban Revitalization Area. She noted the developer is proposing
new construction of a 52-unit affordable multifamily housing apartment community. She
added that Landover Corporation plans to apply to the lowa Finance Authority for Low
Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) for this project, and a requirement of this
application is that the project is in an Urban Renewal or Urban Revitalization Area.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed the staff recommendation is that this development
would provide affordable, quality housing units for families through partnership with a
private developer outside an area of concentrated poverty; the project would accept low
income residents, including HCV participants; the project site is in proximity to
community services and opportunity areas and in a suitably zoned location; and the
project is consistent with housing-related Economic Prosperity, Housing and Land Use
recommendations in the 2017 Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioners discussed the HCV program and incomes for people at the 80°k, 50°k
and 30°k AMI levels. Housing and Community Development Director Steger confirmed
current AMI levels, and then explained the Radford Road project would have HCV rents
at 40°k AMI and a set-aside for units at 30°k AMI. She noted these are rent restrictions
that are monitored by the State of lowa. She said that actual rents would be different
when the project opened from the current rents. She also explained that rental rates are
based on the number of bedrooms, i.e., rent with all utilities included of$400 for a one-
bedroom unit and $500 for a two-bedroom unit for households at 30°k AMI. City
Attorney Brumwell added that HCV participants have an annual review and HCV
developers have an annual certification.
Commissioners discussed the proposal further with staff, especially as the proximity to
community services. Commissioner Wright expressed concern with access to transit.
Housing and Community Development Director Steger noted that the project site was
within a YZ-mile of a transit stop, and that the site's transit route provided connections to
the nearby grocery store and industrial park. Commissioner Wright was concerned
about the length of time for bus riders on this route. Staff Member Carstens noted
changes in Jule Transit service had been made in August 2018 to reduce travel times.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 4
November 13, 2018
Motion by Winterwood, second by Wright, to remove the request from the table. Motion
carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Winterwood, Wright and Pregler; Nay —
None.
Motion by Winterwood, second by Collins, to recommend approval of the Radford Road
Urban Revitalization Area Plan as consistent with the City of Dubuque Comprehensive
Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Winterwood, and Pregler; Nay
—Wright.
Creation of Alta Vista Urban Revitalization Plan (Tabled): Staff Member Carstens
reviewed that on May 15, 2018 Horizon Development Group, Inc. submitted the
enclosed request to the City of Dubuque to consider designating 1225 Alta Vista Street
as an Urban Revitalization Area. She noted that the developer is proposing new
construction of a 60-unit affordable senior housing apartment community. She added
that this is the same private developer of Applewood I — IV senior housing projects on
Pennsylvania Avenue. She noted that Horizon Development Group, Inc. plans to apply
to the lowa Finance Authority for Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) for this
project, and a requirement of this application is that the project is in an Urban Renewal
or Urban Revitalization Area.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed the staff recommendation is that this development
would provide affordable, quality housing units for seniors through partnership with a
private developer; the project would accept low income residents, including HCV
participants; the project site is in proximity to community services and Opportunity Areas
and in a suitably zoned location; and the project is consistent with housing-related
Economic Prosperity, Housing and Land Use recommendations in the 2017
Comprehensive Plan.
Jim Gonyier, 935 Oxford Street, Dubuque, lowa, asked about the projecYs setbacks and
impact on two mature pines on the corner of University Avenue and Alta Vista Street.
Staff Member Carstens clarified the conceptual site plan would not impact the trees as
access was off Nevada Street with a front yard setback like the adjacent structures.
Commissioners discussed the proposal further with staff and found it appropriate.
Motion by Wright, second by Collins, to remove the request from the table. Motion
carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Winterwood, Wright and Pregler; Nay —
None.
Motion by Winterwood, second by Wright, to recommend approval of the Alta Vista
Urban Revitalization Area Plan as consistent with the City of Dubuque Comprehensive
Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Winterwood, Wright and
Pregler; Nay - None.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: None.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 5
November 13, 2018
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Update on Comprehensive Plan Implementation: Staff Member Carstens provided the
Commission with their requested update regarding the implementation strategy for the
Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. She noted the loss of the two staff inembers
assigned to the Comprehensive Plan had restricted implementation to just post-
adoption marketing strategies. She noted the City Council approved funding to retain a
consultant to develop a collective impact model to implement the plan, and a contract
with Teska Associates to provide that service was underway. She also noted that the
new Assistant Planner would start on November 26.
Chairperson Pregler said the Commission's questions at the previous meeting revolved
around the inventory of affordable housing and how we are providing affordable units.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed how mandated use restrictions on rents keep units
affordable, such as at subsidized senior housing communities.
Chairperson Pregler encouraged the Planning Services, Economic Development, and
Housing and Community Development Departments to work together to encourage new
housing developments to include affordable housing units within those developments.
City Attorney Brumwell noted that the City is looking at ways to track where people are
moving from within the community to see if that is freeing up housing for low income
households. Housing and Community Development Director Steger stated that the City
is striving to get people into right-priced housing and will be working with the Dubuque
Area Landlords Association to look at local rents. Chairperson Pregler encouraged
these efforts, noting that the programs are there but they are in separate silos.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Collins, seconded by Winterwood, to adjourn the
November 13, 2018 Long Range Planning Advisory Commission meeting. Motion
carried by the following vote: Aye —Winterwood, Wright, Collins, and Pregler; Nay —
None.
The meeting adjourned at 636 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Adopted