Clearwater AHAC advances LHIS draft, adds single‑family and ADUs to expedited permitting

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee on Oct. 28, 2025 reviewed and revised the draft Local Housing Incentive Strategy (LHIS), confirming the schedule to present the document to the City Council on Dec. 4 and to submit it to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation by Dec. 31, 2025.

The committee kept most recommendations from the 2024 LHIS in place but approved several clarifications and minor edits for the Nov. 18 public hearing. Among the changes, staff and members agreed to add single‑family homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to the city's expedited permitting pathway for certified affordable housing projects; delayed publication of a mentor/developer list from 2025 to 2026; and added a direction to point developers and members of the public to the city's affordable housing web page as the primary starting resource.

Amanda Warner of consultant firm Wade Trim, who led the session, reiterated the near‑term timeline for the LHIS: "After this meeting, the next meeting will be a public hearing," and said the packet will go to City Council on Dec. 4 with a state submittal due Dec. 31. Warner summarized that the draft addresses the 11 incentive areas required by…