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Commission hears linkage-fee introduction and residents press for stronger affordable-housing action
Summary
Staff introduced an ordinance to establish an affordable housing linkage fee and the Florida Housing Coalition presented options; residents and faith-based organizers urged larger fees and raised complaints about a local affordable complex, prompting staff to promise follow-up.
The Daytona Beach Commission received a first-reading ordinance on Feb. 19 proposing an affordable-housing linkage fee to seed a local trust fund and heard public testimony urging higher fee levels and stronger enforcement of existing affordable-housing agreements.
Ken Thomas, director of Redevelopment, introduced the item and said staff partnered with the Florida Housing Coalition to design implementation steps for a linkage-fee-funded housing trust. The Florida Housing Coalition’s representative (name in transcript: Nesbitt) told the commission the linkage fee would provide predictable recurring revenue for a trust fund and reviewed supplemental funding options including sales of city-owned property, in-lieu payments from density bonuses and CRA proceeds.
The Coalition representative said a commercial linkage fee provides a reliable revenue base and recommended careful choices about eligible uses, promoting permanent affordability where public funds are invested. Thomas told commissioners the item would return for a final vote March 5.
Public commenters and community groups urged stronger action. Faith-based organizers and housing advocates said the staff-recommended fee levels were too low based on the Nexus study and asked the commission to adopt larger commercial linkage fees (advocates described examples of $5–$10 per square foot in other jurisdictions). Patty Santa Prade and Mary Churnani, speaking for local faith and housing coalitions, urged commissioners to adopt “bold” fees and to attend an Action Assembly on March 25 focused on affordable housing.
Separately, Commissioner Carmen Cantu and multiple residents described repeated complaints about living conditions at the Clyde Morris Landing (referred to in public comments as a major apartment complex receiving city funding). Commissioners asked staff to research the city’s agreements with the property owner, whether incentives or performance requirements remain enforceable now that certain state tax exemptions were applied, and whether code or contractual remedies are available. Staff said they would research any performance standards in prior agreements and return with details.
Commission discussion noted available data sources for need assessments — including county and regional rental-market studies and the Schindler Center for Housing Studies — and asked staff to present geographic-level needs assessments for Daytona Beach specifically and to coordinate with county studies and upcoming federal/state funding opportunities. Commissioners also asked staff to consult the county’s recent studies and to bring back implementation details (eligible uses, subsidy caps and prioritization) tied to the final linkage-fee design.
