Pilot Knob/Easton Park Questions

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Louisa Brinsmade
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Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 4:27 pm

Pilot Knob/Easton Park Questions

Post by Louisa Brinsmade »

Council Member Pool submitted the following questions to Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) and the City Manager this morning. These questions originate from Mickey Fishbeck Maia, a member of the Water and Wastewater Commission and former Chair of the Joint Committee on Austin Water Utility Financial Plan. Mickey Fishbeck Maia is a certified city planner specializing in water and sewer utility rates and impact fees.

The Water and Wastewater Commission requested the appearance of representatives from NHCD at their meeting last night, Wednesday, February 10, to answer questions about the Austin Water Utility impact fee waivers granted to Pilot Knob, but NHCD did not appear.

Questions for Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) and City Manager:

1. In the Pilot Knob/Easton Park development, Brookfield Residential is to receive Austin Water Utility (AWU) Capital Recovery Fee waivers not just for the affordable housing units, but for 100% of the residential units across the project. How many other projects have received 100% waivers like this one?

2. Are there upcoming residential projects that will also receive fee waivers for 100% of their residential units?

3. What is the consequence of reaching the annual 1,500 cap on SMART Housing fee waivers? Would the fees simply go to AWU and Development Services?

4. Is there any situation that would prevent waived fees from being deposited into the Housing Fund, such as if the SMART Housing cap is reached?

5. If the 1,500 SMART Housing cap is ever reached, would NHCD then be unable to grant fee waivers, or would the department forgo an offer from a developer to provide SMART housing?

6. It has been suggested that any AWU Capital Recover Fee (impact fee) monies deposited into the Housing Fund can simply be transferred back out and returned to AWU if the utility has a greater financial need that must be addressed. Has NHCD had other instances in which Housing Fund monies were transferred out for reasons unrelated to affordable housing?

7. The Capital Recovery Fee Advisory Committee received a report showing 450 fee waivers over a six-month period, indicating about 900 fee waivers per year. What was the trigger for those waivers? Is NHCD anticipating that the number of fee waivers will increase or remain steady (excluding the Pilot Knob/Easton Park project)?

8. City code says that fee waivers can only be given for affordable housing within the city limits. Why were waivers allowed for Pilot Knob/Easton Park, which will not be fully annexed until 2047? What was the source of NHCD’s legal authority to do so?

9. Does NCCD have other affordable housing projects outside the city limits? What portion?

10. There is some contradiction in the city regulations regarding whether or not Capital Recovery Fees can be waived. How did NHCD determine which section of the code to follow in order to allow the fee waivers?
Chief of Staff
Office of Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, District 7