SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapters 6 and 7 of Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code Removing Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects
Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): MJ Adams, AICP, Affordable Housing Manager
end
Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
end
For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
Current provisions in the code, adopted in mid-2023, allow projects with 12% or more affordable units to have an administrative development review process. Zoning changes still require a public hearing. The Council will weigh the benefits of expedited/administrative development review against the ability for Planning Commission and/or Town Council to approve such projects.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend the Planning Commission pass Resolution P25-07 recommending the Town Council adopt an ordinance amending the UDC to remove the alternative standards for affordable housing projects.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• This is a continuation of a meeting from May 7, 2025.
• Council requested that Planning Commission review Study Sessions from March 4, 2025 and April 15, 2025.
• If approved, this action means no new affordable housing developments will be approved under an expedited and/or administrative development review process.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
This item is a continuation of the discussion initiated at the May 7, 2025, Planning Commission meeting. Prior to the July 2 continuation of this item, Planning Commission scheduled time to discuss the proposed resolution and potential recommendations on June 18, 2025. Additionally, following the May 7 meeting, the Planning Commission requested a joint meeting with the Town Council to discuss the proposed resolution; however, this request was deferred by Town Council until after the Council’s comprehensive survey is completed later this summer. Town Council recommended instead that the Planning Commission review the March 4 and April 15 study sessions that addressed Affordable Housing.
From the May 7 Agenda Packet:
In July 2023, the Town Council adopted changes to Municipal Code Title 10 Unified Development Code to allow alternative standards for affordable housing developments and administrative review and approval for eligible developments. Ordinance No. 017-2023 implemented changes to serve as initial efforts to adopt the Proposition 123 “fast track” requirements. Specifically, Chapter 6 amendments allowed alternative standards for affordable housing developments affecting density, lot size, setbacks, and alterative equivalent compliance opportunities. Chapter 7 amendments provided for administrative review under the existing minor subdivision and site plan review process. Chapter 11 amendments provided definitions for Affordable Housing and Area Median Income (AMI) as needed for the Chapters 6 and 7 amendments.
In March 2025, during a Town Council Study Session on the Comprehensive Plan and Affordable Housing, the Affordable Housing Division was directed to initiate the recission of Ordinance 017-2023. The Town Council expressed interest in working with the regional effort to evaluate opportunities for expedited review for affordable housing development, but that a new process should allow for review and approval by Council.
The proposed amendments remove the alternative standards and administrative review process for affordable housing projects. The definitions of Affordable Housing and Area Median Income (AMI) remain as defined in Ordinance 017-2023. The result of this action is that no new affordable housing developments will be approved under an expedited and/or administrative development review process until such time as the Council may pass a new ordinance.
priorities
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
☐ Attractive Community Amenities
☐ Engaged and Diverse Community
☐ Prosperous Economy
☐ Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
☒ Small Town Feel
☐ Safe and Healthy Community
☒ Effective Governance
☐ Environmentally Sustainable
☒ Fiscally Responsible
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. ORIGINAL 5.7.25 Resolution P25-07
2. DRAFT Revised Resolution P25-07
3. Redlined comparison of ORIGINAL to DRAFT
4. Draft Ordinance
5. Staff Report
6. Ordinance No. 017-2023