Commissioner Rawls,
Thank you for working on the Housing Ordinance.
BTR (Build to Rent) is a nationally accepted industry that supports the local housing supply in our community. Further, BTR offers housing choice for renters, ensuring options include not only apartments but also townhomes and small single-family homes available for rent – all creating investment in our local economy. They hire local real estate professionals, attorneys, developers, builders, tradesmen, sales and maintenance staff all to make a project a possibility. They also pay their share of local taxes in the form of property taxes at commercial (Multifamily) rates on an ongoing basis.
I want to provide a list of items I believe would strengthen the language to match the ordinance’s intent, which I understand to be the preservation of our existing for sale housing stock from outside corporate ownership.
Below are some points to consider:
– Ensure there is clear language, including definitions, of items such as “single family home” to mean existing residentially zoned and used property and excluding any commercial or Multifamily properties.
– ”Build to Rent” to include all new construction and or existing homes built specifically for rental product.
– “Contract” to define any project under contract for the intent and purpose of being rental property.
– In addition to prohibiting application for any projects under contract, also prohibit the ordinance applying to any project with vested development rights for projects that are intended to be rental homes. This will help to ensure the ordinance does not cause disruption to businesses and individuals.
Thank for the consideration of these items.
– Commissioner Jay
.
.