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Commissioners accept $526,000 fee‑in‑lieu and approve Vickers Village phasing changes and plat extension
Summary
After extended discussion, the board accepted a revised fee‑in‑lieu of $52,600 per unit (total $526,000) in place of 10 on‑site affordable units for Vickers Village, and approved ordinance amendments modifying phasing and a 24‑month extension for the first plat covering 183 lots.
The board voted to accept an amended payment‑in‑lieu agreement for the Vickers Village compact community in northeast Chatham that would substitute a cash payment for the development’s affordable‑housing element. Staff reported the per‑unit payment was increased from $47,000 to $52,600 to reflect inflation, for a total fee of $526,000; the acceptance would waive the development’s affordable‑housing obligations under the compact community agreement.
Commissioners debated the policy tradeoffs. One commissioner argued the county should honor the 2021 commitment and not accept a fee in lieu; another said the $526,000 could be leveraged to produce more affordable units countywide through loans, partnerships or LIHTC projects. Jamie Andrews, the community development officer, said the developer’s projected per‑unit county cost if the project proceeded as originally envisioned would be about $155,000 per unit, leading staff to recommend the fee. After motion and second, the board approved the fee acceptance with recorded 'ayes' and one recorded 'nay' from Commissioner Delaney. The board also approved related ordinance amendments to modify phasing conditions and a 24‑month extension of the first plat for 183 lots.
