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Hendersonville council votes to enable select housing authority powers to support housing initiatives
Summary
Council adopted a resolution enabling the city to exercise certain housing authority powers under N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 157 to implement parts of its strategic housing plan, including the authority to carry out housing projects with set-asides for lower-income units; staff stressed the city is not replacing the existing housing authority.
The Hendersonville City Council on June 4 adopted a resolution enabling the city to exercise specified powers of a housing authority under North Carolina General Statute chapter 157 to support implementation of the city's strategic housing plan.
City Attorney and staff outlined the scope of powers that the city could exercise if it adopts the enabling resolution, including the ability to carry out or support housing projects, provide grants or loans, offer rent subsidies for households at certain area median income (AMI) categories, and require set-asides so that at least 20% of units in certain projects are reserved for households at 60% AMI or below. Staff emphasized the action is limited: "we are not proposing to become a housing authority. We are not proposing for the city to replace the current housing authority," and that the resolution simply opens statutory options for housing implementation consistent with the housing needs assessment.
Staff described the city's income categories (Category 1: <30% AMI; Category 2: <60% AMI; Category 3: <80% AMI; Category 4: 80'to 120% AMI as workforce housing) and explained how exercising the powers would allow the city to structure projects that mix workforce units with required lower-income set-asides. The public hearing on the matter was advertised and no commenters signed up in person or online.
Council later moved to adopt the enabling resolution and approved it by voice vote; staff said the city can now exercise the identified powers to advance targeted housing projects and programs that implement the strategic housing plan.
Next steps: staff and council will use the newly enabled powers only insofar as they are consistent with statute and the adopted housing plan; specific programs or projects would come back to council for approval.
