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AHAC approves 2025 Local Housing Incentive Strategies and forwards report to City Council
Summary
At its Nov. 18 public hearing, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee approved the 2025 LHIS report with six modified recommendations (including adding single-family and ADU provisions, timeline adjustments, interdepartmental review process clarifications, and aspirational accessibility language) and will forward the report to council on Dec. 4.
The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee held a public hearing on Nov. 18 and voted to approve the updated 2025 Local Housing Incentive Strategies (LHIS) report, forwarding it to City Council for consideration on Dec. 4.
Amanda Warner of Wade Trim reviewed the LHIS purpose under Florida statute and presented the report’s vision, principles and the committee’s changes: the committee carried forward 28 prior recommendations and modified six. Key changes include adding single-family projects to recommendation 1.2 and clarifying staff implementation roles; moving the mentor-list timeline in 1.3 from 2025 to 2026; adding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to recommendation 1.5 so example plans can be prescreened to speed permitting; revising 9.2 to reflect an interdepartmental review process for regulatory instruments; clarifying that proposed accessibility features (13.1) are aspirational and not currently in the City of Clearwater Community Development Code; and adding a direction (16.1) to point developers to the city’s affordable housing web page.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether aspirational design language could be interpreted as new restrictions on developers; Warner and staff said the accessibility language is meant to be considered in future iterations and would not impose immediate new constraints. An elected member also reported regional discussions on YIMBY-type tools, ADUs and senior housing gaps for future committee consideration.
A committee member moved to approve the LHIS report; the committee voted vocally in favor ('Aye') and the motion carried. If City Council approves the LHIS on Dec. 4, the report will be transmitted to the state as part of the Local Housing Assistance Plan required for SHIP funding.
