Andy Schotten, chairperson of the New Kent County Housing Advisory Committee, updated the board on Aug. 29 on the committee’s work over the past 18 months.

Schotten said the committee began with 17 members and split into three subcommittees — new housing, safe housing and research — and considered roughly 50 proposals. Using an impact‑effort matrix, the committee narrowed those to 10 priority ideas and then to a short list of five actions. Schotten told the board the committee will present a PowerPoint in November with specific proposals, recommended timelines and actions.

Why it matters: the committee emphasized attainable workforce housing — defined in the meeting as housing affordable to local deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, teachers and other local workers — and said manufactured housing could be a near‑term option to increase supply. The committee also highlighted existing nonprofit and faith‑based programs that provide home repairs, emergency assistance and other safe‑housing supports and recommended better outreach and a centralized resource link on the county website.

Committee findings and next steps: Schotten said the committee conducted due diligence on a planned project for Patriot’s Landing and spent three meetings reviewing its details before the developer pulled the item from the agenda. The committee will return to the board in November with its five prioritized, actionable recommendations and suggested timelines. Schotten invited the public to attend Housing Advisory Committee meetings, which are held the first Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m.

Context and caveats: the update was a status report; no board action was required. Schotten and several supervisors noted that potential rezoning proposals tied to new development could increase connection‑fee revenue but would also bring impacts to schools, public safety and infrastructure that the board must weigh.