Key Issue Area

Housing

Goals

HG-1. Promote an adequate supply of existing and new housing units to meet the diverse needs of Highland residents by enabling a full assortment of housing choices and price ranges.

Objectives

HO-1 Seek developments that enable independent living arrangements for seniors.

HO-2 Seek ways to increase the supply of rental and multi-family housing options.

HO-3 Give priority to developments that provide moderately priced, higher density housing for seniors, young families and the workforce.

HO-4 Utilize Federal and state programs to enhance housing programs.

HO-5 Protect and enhance the character of Highland County’s population centers.

HO-6 Educate the public and development community on housing needs.

HO-7 Encourage innovative developments that meet community wants and needs in designated growth areas.

Strategies

Timeline

Responsibility

 HS-1 Determine housing needs of Highland’s growing senior population, young families and the County’s local workforce.

2008

Board of Supervisors

HS-2 Facilitate funding options for the construction and operation of independent-living and assisted-living facilities for seniors. (See DS-8. First, we must validate the requirement.

Completed within 3 years

EDA, if requirement is validated.

HS-3 Revise zoning and subdivision ordinances

  1. To ensure that new developments can be built in layouts that are consistent with existing residential and mixed use areas and traditional neighborhood designs
  2. So that they support and do not discourage the availability of an appropriate range of housing choices and price levels.
  3. To enable smaller lot and house sizes and higher densities in designated growth areas where appropriate utilities are available, planned, or included as part of the development.
  4. To permit options in designated growth areas such as housing over retail/business spaces in commercial areas and attached or detached accessory dwellings (ADUs) in residential areas.
  5. Provide zoning and subdivision regulations to encourage planned unit and clustered developments as a viable option.
  6. To make cottage housing developments a viable option so long as they meet specified criteria.

Subsequent to completion of current Comprehensive Plan Review and/or revision of Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance.

Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator

HS-4 Assess the present potential for new developments in and around the current population centers of Monterey, McDowell and Blue Grass. Zone and plan utilities and infrastructure appropriately to make it more economical and profitable to develop those areas. Connect those who own the land with those who may be willing to develop the land in partnership with them. 

Completed within 3 years.

EDA with assistance of Planning Commission

HS-5 Inventory County owned land. Assess potentially viable locations for affordable housing developments on County owned land.

By December 2008

EDA

 

 

 HS-6 Hold meetings with developers and the public to seek their input on how to best ensure that housing choices are targeted toward seniors, young families and the local workforce.

Continuous

EDA

HS-7  Provide information to citizens on Federal or state programs to enhance housing.

Continuous

Supervisors/Department of Social Services