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Home-builder urges deed restrictions, subsidies and RDA funds to secure affordability
Summary
A public commenter during the Sandy City housing workshop told council that achieving 'actual affordability' requires enforceable tools such as deed restrictions, subsidies and redevelopment funds rather than relying solely on market-driven zoning changes.
During the public-comment portion of the Sept. 2 workshop, Perry Harrison — introduced by staff as the first in-room commenter — urged the council to consider enforceable, programmatic tools if the objective is to secure affordable, owner-occupied units rather than relying solely on market incentives.
Harrison told the council that owner-occupancy can be achieved through contractual measures when negotiating development rights and said many other cities use deed restrictions to accomplish owner-occupied or price-targeted housing. "It's traditionally done via deed restrictions," Harrison said, adding that redevelopment funds and subsidies can also play a role if the council makes affordability a direct priority rather than an indirect result of adding supply.
Harrison recommended that staff consider clear, reasonable standards that make the developer's obligations explicit and enforceable without requiring protracted negotiation for each project. Council members acknowledged the point and asked staff to include both direct (deed restrictions, subsidies) and indirect (supply expansion, smaller units) tools in their follow-up materials.
