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Council splits on how active the town should be in workforce housing funding
Summary
Council and staff described multiple workforce‑housing actions — Northpointe and Bridal Road projects, a home‑repair program and a proposed housing fund — but some members warned against expanding town programs and urged reliance on regional housing trusts; staff will present an assessment and a July housing workshop is scheduled.
Workforce housing prompted some of the most contested exchanges of the workshop. Staff (speaker 3) laid out a set of year‑one steps: review the town’s Finding Home plan, advance the Northpointe public‑private project, prepare Bridal Road for redevelopment, pursue grant funding for home repair and lateral sewer connections, and assess the sustainability of a town housing fund.
Supporters argued the town must use land leverage, public‑private partnerships and any available funds to catalyze worker housing — pointing to town land purchases (e.g., Bridal Road) and the Northpointe rezoning as tools. "Public‑private partnerships and land leases let the town move projects forward and get land back at the end of the term," a council member said.
Opponents cautioned that the town should not become a housing authority or a long‑term landlord; they urged continuing regional cooperation (Beaufort‑Jasper housing trust) and limiting the town’s role to grant support and facilitation. One council member argued that earlier February prioritization exercises did not make housing the single top priority and warned of "government creep."
Next steps: staff will present an assessment of housing fund sustainability and return a more detailed package at the July workshop on housing (scheduled July 29). Several operational items (home‑repair grant details, grant pursuit) will continue in parallel.
