Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 7 PM, a small group of LWVKC members met at the Kent County Visitor’s Center to review the League’s Positions on Housing.  The State’s primary position was formulated 25 years ago and the time had come to review the issue.  It was proposed that the League advocate for low income housing decisions to be made that assure that residents are not estranged from services, such as public transportation.  It was agreed that education and constant vigilance is needed.  We need to monitor our government officials and the administration of low income housing programs.

Mickey Elsberg presented the work of the Joint Workforce Housing Taskforce of Kent County of which the LWVKC is a part.  The Taskforce has concentrated on homeownership for moderate income critical workers.  It should be noted that any examination of Affordable Housing is best served by limiting the scope by income.  Often we say, “Of course it is difficult to get into your first home, but the fact is with a median priced home of over $240,000 in the County and a depressed economy, the purchase of a first home is impossible for many professionals such as teachers, law enforcement, emergency workers, healthcare workers, and administrators.

A discussion of MPDUs, inclusionary zoning, mixed use, housing density, Community Land Trusts, and a number of tools for establishing and maintaining an inventory of workforce housing was pursued and was facilitated by the Housing Factsheet from the recent State housing study.  (The Factsheet was supplied to all members of the LWVKC in the April newsletter and is posted on www.kent.lwvmd.org.)

We were also urged to continue to strive for inter-government cooperation and coordination.

Elsberg alerted the group to a major obstacle that challenges the recommendations of the Taskforce after two years of study.  Establishment of a Community Land Trust (CLT) is being advocated as the County’s best option to establish and maintain an inventory of workforce housing in the County.  The recent wave of State legislation prohibiting ground rents has precluded a CLT from being established.  He is recommending that after a ‘cooling off period’ the League begin lobbying the Legislature to amend the recent laws to allow for the establishment of CLT’s administered by governments and/or non-profits.

The meeting adjourned at around 9 PM.

In attendance: Margy Stump, Betty Kerr, Janette Sherbondy, Francie Miller, Bob and Elaine Naper, Jane Hardy, Becky Goode, Lucia Rather, Eloise Blanpied (Rather’s guest), Dinah DeMoss, Mickey Elsberg.

Submitted by Dinah L. DeMoss, 4/11/7