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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAWHC 2024-07-10Dryden Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee Minutes for July 10, 2024 Meeting Via Zoom Making Dryden hospitable & affordable for working families Attendance: Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, Martha Robertson, Craig Anderson, Mike Murphy, Miles McCarty, Ray Burger, Gina Cassidy, Chuck Geisler; Guest Greg Mezey. Christina Davis could not attend. Agenda: 1. June meeting minutes approval 2. Conversation with Greg Mezey, chair of the Tompkins Co. Housing and Economic Development Committee. 3. Update on collaboration with CCETC (Chuck) 4. Update on use of County funding (Martha) 5. Miscellany 1. June Meeting Minutes Approval Unanimously approved, subject to final corrections by Chuck 2. Conversation with Greg Mezey, Chair of the Tompkins County HED Committee ** Ithaca Voice article yesterday on County’s progress on Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to build 100-bed shelter. County’s Homeless Response System averaged 132 people per day in recent study; many were housed in motels due to the area’s lack of sufficient shelter beds. Shelter’s location is under consideration, preferably in the city of Ithaca. Has strong support from County Legislature due to challenge of growing homelessness. The idea is a nonprofit would run the shelter, and they’d probably still need to use hotel rooms for some people. Would new shelter be low-barrier? NYS regulations can be stringent and eliminate many people who need shelter (e.g., people with addiction). On-going state funding depends on meeting state requirements. Ongoing costs could be $2-3 million out of county operating budget; capital costs could be ~$8-9 million, with state and federal money covering about $6-7 million of that and the county paying the rest. The RFQ is out now, with responses expected by September. Project kick-off should be in January 2025, with 1-2 years to construct. ** Greg explained the recent “surge,” the successful effort that brought 39 people into newly available, state-subsidized units in the Asteri project on E. Green St. The HSC coordinated wrap-around services from several agencies, and used this experience to figure out systems to do more of this coordination in the future as new housing units become available. ** The County HED Committee welcomed presentation by Manufactured Housing Working Task Force last week. Included appeal for a resident-owned MH community, update on MH heat pump work by Sustainable Finger Lakes (County funding), weatherization initiative in Dryden, and need to roll back affordable housing crisis through MH rehabilitation. County wants to do more in MH area; desperate need for low and mid-range housing supply. ** Tompkins Community Housing Fund: One of first IDA payments may have finally been paid into the Fund. Funding requests still exceed supply. Dryden has contributed funds to Second Wind’s home in the Village and to the INHS project in Varna. It is hoped that the Town will renew its $50,000 commitment in the next budget. Greg described his conversation with the consultant working on the county-wide strategic economic development plan. He told her that Dryden is a model community when it comes to housing advocacy. She asked about barriers to development, and he said Cornell has been a barrier of sorts to creating more housing. Just started Maplewood Round II graduate housing, but when will C.U. attend to staff and workforce housing? Martha notes the 2008 East Hill Village Plan, which included hundreds of staff and workforce units; bring this back and rejuvenate? ** New housing planner, Shawna Stevenson, is a welcome addition to county staff. 3. Update on collaboration with CCE Tompkins County Chuck reviewed pilot project for weatherization of 50 MHs in Dryden over the next 2 years, a working collaboration with CCE which has a contract with NYSERDA to perform this. No cost to Dryden. Chuck has drafted and circulated M.O.U. between the town and CCE among Housing Committee. Corrections/changes to M.O.U. from committee welcome; also invited members to join him and Leonardo in a Friday meeting with CCE to discuss the M.O.U. Possible approval by town board if ready by next Thursday’s TB meeting. Eligible MH’s can receive $10,000-$14,000 in weatherization following a free energy audit. Other repairs might be necessary and delay weatherization. When completed, same MH household eligible for another $5,000 for heat pump assistance (new IRA funds). Plan is to do 20 units this year and 30 in 2025. 4. County Housing Grant Martha reported on communication with Hailley Delisle about County’s interest in TC3 dorm project and about her outreach to TC3 President Amy Kremenek. TC3 Foundation lawyers still sorting out what can be done with the vacant dorms. Should we seek County Housing Grant for another purpose? Craig suggested assessing housing/mixed use potential of NYSEG building. This is significant in light of nodal emphasis in Dryden 2045 and county’s identification of “NYSEG corner” as a node. Martha will let Amy know we need a decision soon; if negative, let’s move ahead with NYSEG repurposing study if Housing Grants are still available. There are NYS funds for this kind of conversion. Asbestos problems at NYSEG building noted. Ray will reach out to NYSEG to see where they are and Martha will follow up with Hailley about County’s potential interest in NYSEG. 5. Other: **Pro-Housing Certification: State still evaluating Dryden’s resolution to qualify. No urgency b/c town doesn’t have an application that requires certification for now. ** INHS Project in Varna: Town put $50,000 into project through the Housing Fund. Leonardo hopes TB will add another $50,000 in next Town budget. INHS project entails 4.6 acres but design plan is sensitive to street view (seems more “open” despite density). Some units dedicated to homeless youth; INHS will have staff on-site. PILOT negotiations going on with town. ** Zoning review/revision: report due in August. Consultant (Nan Stolzenburg) will report first to Planning Board, then to Dryden public. ** Freeville sewer upgrade: Miles said engineer is working with village on scale of upgrades (DEC will have say in this). Could cost $6-8 million. Engineer believes grant money is available. ** FEMA & HUD: both have approved expanded definition of the floodplain, following an executive order from President Biden requiring government agencies to tighten these rules. The new standard requires the agency to factor in climate change impacts when it decides where and how it’s safe to build. ** Town Lands: RFP will be out for another week. Nominated Craig to be liaison to Client Committee (he accepted); Leonardo will inform Leslie. Conservation Board also needs to appoint someone; Leonardo will urge Spring to move forward on this. ** American Planning Association planning conference in Ithaca Oct. 9-11. Ray involved in coordinating and encouraging IAED and County planning people to present. To be held in new conference center on Green Street and open to public. ** Dryden2045 is an addendum to original 2005 Comp Plan, not a new (replacement) plan. ** Welcomed Gina Cassidy, recently hired by Planning Department. NEXT MEETING: Aug. 7, 2 pm Minutes by Martha Robertson, transcribed by Chuck Geisler