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Planner briefs commission on limited lower-cost rental stock; Board considering inclusionary bonus
Summary
Staff analysis found only two studio apartments affordable to households earning under $50,000 and a handful of units affordable at roughly $57,000; the Board is weighing an inclusionary bonus targeting 80% AMI using county-level income figures.
Township Planner Jarrett Lash briefed the Planning Commission on staff analysis showing a limited supply of lower-cost multifamily rental units in Upper Merion Township.
Lash reported that only two studio apartments in the Township are affordable to households earning under $50,000 annually, and that five studios are affordable to households earning under about $57,000. He noted the Township's four-person area median income (AMI) is about $112,000, while the county-level 100% AMI figure used by HUD and PHFA programs is about $95,000; an 80% AMI threshold for a single-person household is roughly $66,850.
Lash said the Board of Supervisors is considering an inclusionary housing bonus program aimed at the 80% AMI level and is expected to use county-level income figures for ease of administration. Chair Matt Popek and Commissioner Jaquelin Camp commented that while inclusionary bonuses can help, more significant change in a built-out municipality likely requires rethinking residential zoning to allow more small-unit additions and working within state and federal affordable housing financing systems.
No public comment was offered on the item at the meeting.
