Minutes - 01.21.2020 - City Council WorkshopCity of Clermont
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
January 21, 2020
The Clermont City Council met at a workshop on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, in the Council
Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Ash called the workshop to order at 9:00am with the following
Council Members present: Brishke, Travis, Purvis, and Bates. Other City officials present were
City Manager Gray, City Attorney Mantzaris and Deputy City Clerk Zinker.
Multi -Family Moratorium
City Manager Gray thanked everyone for coming, reviewed the history of the City's moratorium,
and introduced Richard Levey, Owen Beitsch, and Rob Panepinto.. The moratorium will be lifted on
April 8, 2020.
Dr. Richard Levey, Levey Consulting, reviewed Lake County housing profile and Lake County
Property Appraiser classification of Multi -Family uses. Dr. Levey introduced Mr. Beitsch.
Mr. Beitsch reviewed key takeaways, how we got here, the current influences, U.S. Homeownership
rates, industry responses, land use economics, community by the numbers, and implications for key
areas.
City Manager Gray stated the City is experiencing $1,600 to $2,000 rent in the area.
Mayor Ash and Council Member Purvis expressed concern with businesses not paying living wages
to their employees. Mr. Beitsch replied governing bodies have difficulty imposing control on wages
but can impose control on land.
Mayor Ash expressed concern for high rental costs in apartment complexes.
Mr. Panepinto reviewed the core problem for affordable housing, common occupations for Orlando
area, preservation risks: expiring subsidies, building a local housing system: the affordable housing
continuum, trend: corporate investment in affordable housing nationally, City of Charlotte's model
driven by the private sector, collaborative investments in housing, leveraging two pilots with private
capital and a regional housing trust, Paramore asset stabilization fixed, leadership brings solutions:
regional housing trust and a private sector gap fund, and typical gap for four percent tax credit and
no tax credit construction.
Council Member Purvis expressed support for the bigger companies being the leaders in providing
living wages.
City Manager Gray there are some policies the City can provide to developers to incentivize
affordable housing.
Mayor Ash convened at 10:13am. Mayor Ash reconvened at 10:24am.
Dr. Levey reviewed the vacant land analysis, estimated multi -family yield on vacant property, and
observations.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
January 21, 2020
Council Member Purvis inquired if it was possible to take 50 percent of the available land and set it
aside for affordable housing. City Attorney Mantzaris stated it is possible under the new growth
management bill however the City has to set aside a type of compensation form for the land owner
to make back the profit taken away but forcing their land to be restricted to affordable housing. The
cost and procedure would have to be worked out.
Frank Wells, CEO of Housing Trust, stated the goal is to incentivize the development of units
further down the affordable housing range scale.
Mayor Ash opened the Public Hearing.
Steve Smith, 1323 Briarhaven Lane, stated the apartments on Citrus Hill is affordable housing. A
$36,000 annual income is within range for affordable housing. Over 900 people are on the wait list
for Woodwinds. The demand for affordable housing exists.
Nanette Fountain, Manager of Carrabba's, stated the company has struggled in the last 5 years to
maintain their workforce where in prior years there was not this issue. Cooks earn approximately
$35,000 to $40,000 per year. They are living further out due to not being able to afford to live in the
City of Clermont.
Cecilia Bonifay, Ackerman Law Firm, stated this workshop is a great initiative and joint effort to
make housing work for the City. There should be more incentives rather than sanctions to
encourage affordable housing development.
Chip Tatum, Apartment Association of the Greater Orlando, expressed incentives that restrict
developers will tend to have the opposite effect of the intent. Mr. Tatum offered additional
information for the Council should they want it.
Mayor Ash stated she would like the information.
Mayor Ash closed the Public Hearing.
Council Member Travis inquired if staff had suggestions such as to alter the impact fees, designate
areas for tiny houses, or defining what is affordable and the size of affordable units. The workshop
is a good start to address the situation. Council Member Travis expressed concerns with the lack of
roads to support further development and suggested the City work together with the developers to
put in the road.
City Manager Gray stated staff could work with the consultants on Council Member Travis'
comments and report back to Council in 30 days.
Council Member Purvis suggested working with the County to help resolve the problem of roads as
well. City Manager Gray replied Dr. Levey is heading the wellness way development with both the
City and the County where it was stipulated for nothing to move forward until a funded road way
was accomplished.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
January 21, 2020
City Manager Gray and Mayor Ash thanked everyone for coming out.
With no further discussion, the workshop adjourned at 10:57am.