Key Housing Policy Vote Due
This month, Ann Arbor City Council is scheduled to vote on a housing policy. The proposed policy is intended to create a "coherent policy or strategy for the development, replacement and upkeep of housing in Ann Arbor," and to combine all housing matters requiring City involvement into one Housing Division.
The policy calls for the City to do such things as strengthen the Human Rights Ordinance, "initiate housing opportunities for low and moderate income city residents," "encourage and assist development of a wide range of housing structure, types and costs," "encourage and assist low and moderate income individuals to develop, own and manage their own housing, provided that it does not result in displacement," and "involve citizenry in the development, review and implementation of the housing policy."
This housing policy has been a long time coming. Originally written by a caucus of Democratie women councilmembers and then-council candidates, it was approved by Council on April 7, 1988. Five weeks later, after city elections gave a council majority back to the Republicans, it was brought back up, only to be tabled and sent to a mayor-appointed task force. The task force was made up of some City Council members, along with representatives of the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors, the Washtenaw County Homebuilders Association, the Ann Arbor Apartment Association, the Ann Arbor Tenants Union, the Shelter Association and other individuals. The policy is tentatively scheduled for consideration by Council on July 17.
During its travels through City Hall and the task force, most of the language favorable to the development of affordable housing was retained. The task force was unable to reach consensus on just three points, two of which have significant implications for affordable housing.
A section of the policy calling for City government support for economic integration in housing was unacceptable to some task force members. This controversial proposal calis for the city to encourage and assist diversified housing projects. If included, this would call for the city to show a clear preference for projects in which rich and poor persons live, not just on the same side of town, but in the same neighborhood or complex.
The second disputed area is over land use and displacement. This section would limit the enforcement of zoning ordinances and the granting of variances and demolitions when they would contribute to the loss of affordable housing. This type of tion of private development is found nowhere else in the policy.
A number of task force members also objected to the inclusion of manufactured housing among the housing types to be encouraged by the City, due to concerns over housing quality and the use of nonlocal labor. If included, this provision would give support to the use of both pre-fabricated units and mobile homes in affordable developments.
Frustrated by the slow process of adopting the Housing Policy, a community group - The Ann Arbor Housing Coalition (AAHC) - was created. The AAHC, whose first goal is passage of the policy, includes representatives from 25 different advocacy, community and religious organizations and agencies, many of whom have been involved with previous efforts to address local housing needs.
In pushing for the passage of the policy, the Coalition is seeking the unanimous approval of City Council. "Unanimous City Council adoption of the Policy will serve as a clear mandate to implement solutions to the housing crisis," according to Ann Brown of the Coalition's Steering Committee.
Because the proposal is a policy statement and not a law, it provides guidelines rather than specific actions to achieve its goals. With a clear Council mandate, Coalition members say, the possibilities for implementation of the Policy are greater.
After passage, Coalition members will work to monitor implementation of the Policy, and take part in the development of strategies to meet the housing needs of low and moderate income people.
Individuals and/or representatives of organizations are strongly encouraged to express their support for particular aspects of the Policy andor the entire document. Copies of the current draft of the Housing Policy are available at the City of Ann Arbor Community Development Department (ask for Larry Friedman at 994-2921) in the basement of the City Hall annex at 220 E. Huron. Comments should be directed to Councilmembers through personal communication and at the public hearing on the housing policy, currently scheduled for Monday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. in City Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall (confirm with the City Clerk 994-2725).
Anyone interested in joining the Ann Arbor Housing Coalition is invited toattend the group's meetings (see Agenda Calendar) or cali steering committee members Kris Hoppe at 994-1271 or Verna Spayth at 971-0277.