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Council funds three small housing repairs, releases HOME Fund NOFA and approves OPAL amendment for Lydia Lane
Summary
Council approved full funding for three affordable‑housing repair grants, released the HOME Fund NOFA (including a new operations & maintenance application), and approved OPAL Community Land Trust’s request to allow Lydia Lane to serve up to a moderate income band and a 40‑year county covenant.
San Juan County Council on May 26 approved funding and program changes to support affordable housing across the islands.
Affordable housing applications: Housing coordinator Ryan Page reported three small applications received and recommended full funding for emergency electrical work at Pear Tree Apartments (Lopez) and two projects on Orcas (fire extinguishers and site safety). The council approved full funding totaling $33,359 and agreed to keep the application window open for cold‑weather shelter applications so shelters can apply when they are ready.
HOME Fund NOFA: Staff recommended releasing the 2026 HOME Fund Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) with illustrative funding of $3,000,000 from REIT and $700,000 in 1/10th affordable‑housing sales tax, plus a newly clarified operations & maintenance (O&M) reimbursement program aimed at projects that serve extremely low‑income tenants whose rents do not cover operating costs. Council approved the NOFA release.
OPAL Lydia Lane: OPAL requested that the Lydia Lane project on Orcas be allowed to serve households up to 100% of AMI (staff explained county code categorizes projects as low or moderate income and would treat this as the moderate band up to 115% AMI) and to extend the county monitoring covenant to 40 years to match Department of Commerce funding. Staff and the advisory committee recommended approval; council approved the amendment.
Why it matters: The combined actions move multiple small, ready‑to‑execute projects forward, formalize a path for O&M funding for deeply affordable units, and adjust affordability and covenant terms in a way staff says is consistent with the project’s intent and state guidance.
