Council receives housing strategic-vision update; UVM Center for Rural Studies to begin needs assessment

City planning staff updated the Winooski City Council Monday on progress toward housing strategic-vision goals, reporting that the Equitable Housing Needs Assessment is under contract and that the Planning and Housing commissions continue work on replacement and inclusionary zoning proposals.

Jasmine (staff) told council the contract with the University of Vermont’s Center for Rural Studies is active and that the first phase — a literature and data review — is underway. That review will be followed by a second phase focused on local data collection and community engagement. Staff expects materials from the first phase in the coming months and said results will be shared with the Housing and Planning commissions and council.

Staff also reported that the Planning and Housing commissions have met multiple times and that the commissions requested a private-developer pro forma presentation to illustrate current development costs and constraints. The presentation is tentatively scheduled for a joint meeting on Jan. 22; staff said outreach has been made to local developers who recently worked in Winooski. Council members asked staff to consider whether a nonprofit perspective (for example, a Housing Finance Agency or CHT) could also be included, and staff agreed to explore additional viewpoints.

Jasmine said code-enforcement staffing vacancies have slowed planned outreach related to public building registry education. On airport noise mitigation, staff reported the October public meeting and a November Airport Commission review that identified 52 additional homes in South Burlington as eligible for mitigation; the mayor has asked that program staff consider including Winooski residences if future grant dollars become available.

No council action was taken; the presentation was received for information and staff will return with further materials as work proceeds.