MINUTES
HOUSING COMMITTEE
MAY 7, 2002
PRESENT: Co-Chairs Lois Bronz and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Peter Mosbacher
Staff: Barbara Dodds and Jean Cloidt
GUESTS: Rose Noonan - Housing Action Council, Nancy MacMillan - Planning Dept., George Raymond - Housing Opportunity Commission, Bill Randolph - County Executive’s Office, Joan Arnold - A Home, Kim Jacobs – Westchester Housing Fund, Karen Schatzel – LWV, Ellen Levy – Washingtonville Housing Alliance, Peter Cantillo - Westhab
Co-Chair Lois Bronz called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.
Co-Chair Bronz introduced Ellen Levy, Chair of the Non-Profit Housing Coalition, Rose Noonan of the Housing Action Council and Peter Cantillo of Westhab. Ellen Levy explained that the Non-Profit Housing Coalition meets once a month with regards to affordable housing. Their goal is to create as much affordable housing as possible.
Ellen Levy then introduced Joan Arnold from A Home, their project is a four-unit project. Below is their time line with regards to New Homes Land Acquisition Funding:
Timeline for 606 Route 22, Croton Falls
In 2000
7/00 - Lost Upper Manor project in Cortlandt due to inability of County to give time line guarantee of New Homes land acquisition for closing of Upper Manor.
8/00 - Start bidding on Croton Falls project.
8/10/00 - meet with North Salem’s C. Curtis and L. Axelson re property at 606 Route 22.
8/15 & 8/17/00 - Again, meet with North Salem officials regarding project.
8/29/00 - Made counter-offer to owner based on doing environmental work.
9/00 - Contract with the seller for end of the year closing.
9/15 - initiated appraisal with County approved appraiser.
9/21- met with George Latimer re fast tracking affordable housing proposals.
9/22 - Meet about Croton Falls with County Planning’s Anthony Zano and Bill Brady to go over scope of project.
10/22/00 - Meeting in North Salem with L. Salley, County Planning Board, Sy Globerman, etc re zoning issues to speed up process.
11/00 - given time frame from County Planning Board, info ASAP to CBL
11/21/00 - established Croton Falls, - zba, pb process.
12/05/00- spoke with Larry Salley about time line and how to speed up zoning process so that purchase can occur in January of 2001.
12/27/01 - Visited with Bruce Thompson, North Salem building inspector, to go over the building permit process.
In 2001
2/7/01 - Town Planning Board public hearing - site plan.
2/8/01 - Zoning board of appeals meeting.
2/9/01- A-HOME closes on the property with owner. (We are charged extra funds because of the delay in closing)
3/7/01 - ZBA approval.
3/13/02 - North Salem Housing Board.
3/15/01- ZBA North Salem finalization.
5/01 - AmeriCares does work on the property in anticipation of construction work to be done in summer (anticipating closing with County)
5/29/01- Department of BOH Ed Delaney gives sign off of septic system. Delays on way to County Board of Legislators, lost momentum, bounced – other projects are moved ahead. Summer meetings of CBOL, A-HOME proposal had gotten derailed-Bedford Hills project moves ahead of A-HOME -- for profit developer.
9/10/01 - County Board of Legislators approves project, but some
reservations to be ironed out. Controversy about first right of refusal and whether there should be affordable housing project in Northern Westchester.
10/01 - resolved issues -contract being drawn up.
10/22/01- contracts being drawn up can set date of closing.
10/26/01 - Looked for contracts - no contracts.
12/15/01 - Sheryl Nearman to be attorney for county - A-HOME’s contract put aside for Bill Brown and Jas. Bason - private developer.
12/01 - Bond Council has problem with related party issue to be resolved by end of January according to Larry Salley.
In 2002
2/02 - A-HOME seeks extension for final site plan approval from Town of North Salem - application is complete except for contracts from County, each month extension has to be sought because contract is not ready.
2/7/02- Rose N and I try to set up meeting with Legal Department and
Planning Department to iron out related party issues, meeting never held.
2/10/02 - call County Planning Board to find out when to meet - no answer.
Mr. Peter Cantillo, Vice President of Westhab then explained the timeline of their most recent project:
6/23/00 - Application submitted to the County Planning Dept.
10/3/00 - Resolution approved by County Planning Dept.
5/21/01 - Legislation introduced at Board of Legislators
7/16/01 - Approved by Budget and Appropriations Committee
7/23/01 - Approved by Board of Legislators
8/16/01 - Approved by Board of Acquisition and Contracts
11/15/01 - Closed on acquisition
Mr. Cantillo stated that they have had three projects completed by the New Homes Program. Mr. Cantillo explained that it seems to be taking longer now for a project to get approved. He stated that maybe their could be a boiler plate made for the processing. He stated that the program is tremendously popular. He stated that private individuals are trying to take advantage of it also. Mr. Cantillo felt that the Planning Department is getting pressured from the private sector. Mr. Cantillo also felt that with Mr. Salley leaving the Planning Department to go to Transportation will possibly hinder the program.
Ellen Levy explained that her group from Washingtonville Housing is working on a 10 unit rental project and that Nancy MacMillan, from Planning is helping them. Nancy MacMillan stated that they (Washingtonville) didn’t have all their paperwork complete, but it is on the verge of completion and should be coming to the Board within the next month.
Rose Noonan stated that the Housing Action Council, which is a not-for-profit housing coalition, has ownership in the “New Homes Program.” She stated that there are some procedural issues that need to be addressed, such as time frames, staffing reviews, etc. She presented to the Planning Department some “language” that could possibly be used to either form an acceptable time frame or model to work from or some procedure to streamline the process. She will be submitted this “language” to the Housing Committee.
Nancy MacMillan then addressed the committee and stated that there is no preference given to private vendors over not-for-profits. She stated that sometimes people come in with just an idea and that it could take weeks or months before the application is completed. She stated that it might not be practical to do a time frame because every project has different issues. It was stated that staffing might have been a problem but that Planning is working on rectifying that issue.
Discussion was had were it was stated that Planning is not only the problem but that there is only one attorney working on all the contracts in the Law Department. Right of First Refusal was an issue last year. It was stated that sometimes the matter can be time-sensitive, also matters can just be rubber-stamped.
Chair Bronz stated that this issue would be looked into with regards to clarifying and possibly streamlining the process so that the units don’t become bogged down in paperwork and cost the not-for-profits funds.
The Committee at an upcoming meeting will review this issue.
Co-Chair Bronz stated that at the time meeting – the meeting’s time would be reviewed, as it is difficult for the committee to meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Motion made by Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins to adjourn, seconded by Peter Mosbacher. All in favor – aye.
Adjourned at 4:10 p.m.