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He said the ingredients of housing costs are: land, public or private infrastructure, entitlements
in permit fees, cost of housing, cost of labor, profit margins, and market aspects. He said the
areas, which can be affected and changed, are being considered.
Commissioner Dorosin said he would love to hear on going updates from the multidepartment
effort.
Commissioner Rich said when the BOCC approved the development of Whitfield the
developer made voluntary contributions to affordable housing. She said the idea of affordable
housing in the rural part of the County should be considered as well as who is being served by
the affordable housing.
Craig Benedict said staff has reviewed the inventory of affordable housing in the rural
parts of the County. He said a comprehensive picture will be presented to the BOCC.
Chair McKee suggested breaking affordable housing into two sections: low income
affordable housing (Community Home Trust, Habitat, etc.); and work force affordable housing
($125,000 to $150,000 homes).
Michael Harvey said looking at the comprehensive plan and the land use map, high
intensity housing, in the 10 to 20 year transitions, is the highway 70 corridor, certain areas near
Hillsborough and Durham, and some areas of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He said it is clustered
in these areas as the services are located there as well.
Chair McKee asked if alternative water and sewer systems are being considered, can
work force affordable housing be offered outside these high dollar areas just mentioned by
Michael Harvey.
Michael Harvey said one of the rationales for recommending a rural residential master
plan development process is to allow that type of dialogue to occur. He said it is important to
remember that there are some intrinsic limits to such a dialogue, based on a density discussion
that must occur at another work session. He said the village concept is a possibility if the
infrastructure obstacles can be overcome.
Chair McKee said some smaller local builders may be attracted to these options.
Commissioner Jacobs said this discussion occurred at the BOCC retreat three years ago
and the idea of clustered development with on-site community systems was considered. He
said it is time to move past discussion and to try something.
Commissioner Price said she would like to try the cluster developments with a small
number of homes. She said those of modest income, who wish to live in a rural setting, should
be able to do so.
Commissioner Rich referred to the map on page 77 and asked if Michael Harvey could
clarify the dark grey areas.
Michael Harvey said these are transition areas that are managed, from a zoning
standpoint, by either Chapel Hill or Carrboro. He said the County has granted authority for
those areas to be developed in accordance with the joint planning land use planning agreement.
Commissioner Rich referred to the triangle on the bottom of the map, which is identified
as rural buffer. She asked if there is a reason this portion of land is considered as such.
Michael Harvey said that goes back to the joint planning land use planning agreement.
He said the area was rural in nature, with lots of farms.
Chair McKee recalled the discussion about the extension of the water line for fire
protection in that area.
Commissioner Rich said this triangular area seems out of character given that Chatham
County is developing right up to the edge of it.
Craig Benedict said it is known as the “lost triangle”.
Michael Harvey said based on this work session, the BOCC desires a presentation
regarding how the options discussed this evening will look and a future work session on density.
Commissioner Jacobs said he hoped this discussion would include tax implications of
the various possibilities.