Brevard Council reaffirms authority to act as a housing authority under state law

The Brevard City Council on Jan. 5 voted to adopt a resolution reaffirming the city's authority to exercise the powers of a housing authority under North Carolina General Statute Chapter 157.

Senior planner Emily Brewer told the council that Chapter 157 permits municipalities to acquire, own, lease, rehabilitate and operate housing; enter agreements with state, federal or private developers; issue bonds; and undertake redevelopment or revitalization in areas with substandard housing. "When a city elects to do so, it may carry out all functions that are granted to a housing authority under that chapter," Brewer said.

Rodney Locks, one of the petitioners, urged the council to clarify what the city will not do and to define "affordable housing" in the resolution. "I think you need to define affordable housing," he said, adding that the text does not state whether the city would act as a property manager or provide financial incentives.

Council members said the action was largely an administrative clarification of a 1968 finding. Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Baker said the move was "dotting the i's and crossing the t's" given subsequent state law changes; he and other council members emphasized the resolution was not intended to displace the independent Brevard Housing Authority. After discussion, council moved, seconded and approved the resolution.

The council's action directs staff to carry out the clarification steps contained in the packet; the resolution itself does not adopt any specific housing program or funding commitment. Staff said any future programmatic steps would follow standard public-notice and committee processes.

Next steps: staff will publish the adopted resolution and continue outreach to stakeholders, and any programmatic proposals that require policy decisions or funding will be brought back to council for separate action.