AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation and hold a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Resolution 2021-231R, amending Resolution 2020-132R (LIHTC-20-01, Lantana on Bastrop), by revising the list of common amenities, providing no objection to the submission of an application for low income housing tax credits to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the proposed Lantana on Bastrop Multifamily Housing Project located at the intersection of South Old Bastrop and Rattler Road; approving findings related to such application; imposing conditions for such no objection; providing authorizations for execution or submission of documents related to the such application; and declaring an effective date, and consider approval of Resolution 2021-231R.
Body
Meeting date: November 16, 2021
Department: Planning and Development Services Department
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: n/a
Account Number: n/a
Funds Available: n/a
Account Name: n/a
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: n/a
City Council Strategic Initiative:
N/A
Comprehensive Plan Element (s):
☐ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
☐ Land Use - Choose an item.
☒ Neighborhoods & Housing - Diversified housing options to serve citizens with varying needs and interests
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
☐ Transportation - Choose an item.
☐ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan:
Vision San Marcos - A River Runs Through Us
Background Information:
Resolution 2020-28R was approved on February 4th, 2020 providing no objection to the submission of an application for low income housing tax credits to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for the proposed Lantana on Bastrop Multifamily Housing Project located at the intersection of South Old Bastrop and Rattler Road. This project is currently under construction. The Resolution was amended twice:
• June 16th, 2020: to clarify the zoning district that the applicant would be pursuing for the project.
• September 1, 2020: To add language stating the project site is located in a census tract that has more than 20% Housing Tax Credit Units per total households as established by the 5-year American Community Survey as required by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
The purpose of the current amendment is to revise the list of common amenities proposed in the development. While amenities are being added and removed, the development is not proposing to decrease the number of amenities proposed and is maintaining a total of 24 points as allocated by TDHCA. The revisions are as follows:
Removing:
• Controlled gate access for entrance and exit areas, intended to provide access that is limited to the Development's tenancy (1 point);
• Furnished fitness center. Equipped with a variety of fitness equipment (at least one item for every 40 Units). Choose from a specific list identified in the Qualified Action Plan. (1 point);
• Full perimeter fencing that contains the parking areas and all amenities (excludes guest or general public parking areas) (2 points);
• Library with an accessible sitting area (separate from the community room) (1 point);
• Community Dining Room with full or warming kitchen furnished with adequate tables and seating (3 points);
• Bicycle parking that allows for, at a minimum, one bicycle for every five Units, within reasonable proximity to each residential building that allows for bicycles to be secured with lock (lock not required to be provided to tenant) (1 point);
Adding:
• Furnished fitness center. Equipped with a variety of fitness equipment (at least one item for every 20 Units). Choose from a specific list identified in the Qualified Action Plan. (2 points);
• Sport Court or field (including, but not limited to, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer or Baseball Field) (2 points);
• Enclosed community sun porch or covered community porch/patio (1 point);
• Lighted pathways along all accessible routes (1 point);
• Activity Room stocked with supplies (Arts and Crafts, board games, etc.) (2 points);
• Recycling Service (includes providing a storage location and service for pick-up) (1 point);
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
At their September 29, 2021 meeting, the Workforce Housing Council Committee considered the applicant’s request to remove full perimeter fencing and controlled gate access from the development. The Committee expressed unanimous approval of the request provided that the number of amenity points are maintained.
Following the Committee’s meeting, the applicant proposed additional updates to the amenity list. Staff received direction from the Committee via email that the applicant’s request be considered by the full City Council at their November 16, 2021 meeting rather than going to the Committee first for consideration. The Committee indicated a desire to include reference to a Capital Area on Aging presentation for seniors, which the applicant is amenable to, however Lantana on Bastrop is not a senior housing development.
Alternatives:
n/a
Recommendation:
Applications for Resolutions of No Objection must meet at least 5 of the 8 criteria, including criteria #1 of the City’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit policy to receive a positive staff recommendation. Based on the criteria outlined in the policy, the application approved on February 4th, 2020 meets 6 of the 8 criteria.
• Per the LIHTC Policy, criteria (c), “the project shall exceed the minimum TDHCA requirements for amenities”. The applicant is exceeding the minimum number of amenities and is providing 24 points (22 required), therefore, this criteria is still met.
• In addition, criteria (d) states that the list of amenities shall be included in the Project’s Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA). The applicant will be required to provide the LURA to staff once it is finalized.
Overall, the revision to the common amenities does not affect the applicant’s status of compliance with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit policy and 6 of the 8 criteria are still met.
Staff recommends approval of the updated Resolution of No Objection as presented.