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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2012-49 - Housing ElementORDINANCE NO. c;bla An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, Adopting the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element in accordance with Chapter 1.08 of the Georgetown City Charter and Functional Elements Thereof and amending Chapter 1.12.: Georgetown Comprehensive Plan of the Code of Ordinances ; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date. Whereas, the City Charter of the City of Georgetown was amended by vote of the people in April 1986 such that comprehensive planning was established as a continuous and ongoing governmental function; and Whereas, Ordinance Number 2008-07 did amend Chapter 1.12 Georgetown Comprehensive Plan in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown defining the Comprehensive Plan and elements adopted thereof; and Whereas, the Housing Advisory Board, serving as the Steering Committee utilized the findings of these interviews to establish the study area and define thresholds for analysis; and Whereas, the Housing Advisory Board met to review existing conditions, demographic trends and market forecasts for the City of Georgetown for use in creation of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element; and Whereas, the Housing Advisory Board did recommend to City Council approval of the draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element, on July 11, 2012; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT: Section 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance implements provisions of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Section 2. Chapter 1.12, Georgetown Comprehensive Plan, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 1.12.100. Recd. Functional housing plan adopted. In accordance with Chapter 1.08, Subsection 2 of the City Charter, the City Council of the City has adopted that certain document entitled "2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element' for the purpose of directing the City Council, staff, and/or commissions in rendering actions and resolutions relating to the utilization of all of the available resources within the City and its planning area for the purpose of developing a diverse and sustainable housing stock. This document is dated August 14, 2012 and may be amended from time to time. Ordinance Number: go 1 ,;� / Page 1 of 2 Description: Housing Element Date Approved: 8-14-2012 Editor's note: Copies of the "2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element " are available in both the office of the City Secretary and the Planning and Development office. Section 3. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element shall be implemented in accordance with the Administrative procedures of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, consistent with state law and Unified Development Code notification and procedures. Section 4. All future ordinances of the City implementing elements of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element shall be in conformity with the adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element. Section 5. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and effect. Section 6. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. Section 7. This ordinance shall become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Georgetown. PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the 241h day of July 2012. PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the 141h day of August 2012. APPROVED AS TO FORM: r� J w tj 2 CA1 l Bridget Chapman Acting City Attorney J; Ordinance Number: C?0101-Page 2 of 2 Description: Housing Element Date Approved: 8-14-2012 THE C OF GEORGETOWN: IT Geoife Garver Mayor � 5 .rill, r F IA - 1 i ��'Jr.'n � 'j11'�jYY�77��. 7>'�.'.^� � •�i �S Y /S. Y �, VA c �• ' ,t 'fir Jfi Slv •f { E If 4f- ��."t r'. ter- � �H•{�4 ry� � .' .11c- - r. +'f �' � � } •t V �` ti. ' OVA.e;,¢ �•. •tt rr".'�� `{ i. �. f • .. 2 Y ` Jay., .$— WOO ` 1 ' 11;_ b�tlllli •'fit. r r -_` -�_~ _ � _ - •`r.� - ti=' fir. - _ .� City of Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan Housing Element �/1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. Demographic Profile 3. Existing and Projected Demand 4. Policy Recommendations K, 13 16 32 IN (This page left intentionally blank) Executive Summary Why Study Affordable Housing Needs in Georgetown? In 2005, the City Council of Georgetown appointed a Task Force to address the issue of affordable housing. The Affordable Housing Task Force recommended three specific actions, including the creation of a Housing Advisory Board, hiring a full-time housing coordinator, and the creation of a Housing Master Plan with emphasis on affordable housing. The Housing Element of the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan represents the fulfillment of a goal to research and analyze housing needs and to establish a framework for housing policy for the City. Why should the City analyze its housing needs? Housing is a core community value in Georgetown. This value is acknowledged in the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The vision, as expressed within the plan, is for Georgetown to become a community with "residential developments that are well-connected.. ,planned and designed to compliment the heritage and natural character... which offer a variety of housing types and price ranges." What Is Affordable Housing? For the purposes of this report, affordable housing is defined as paying no more than 30% of one's gross household income on shelter. For tenants, this means paying no more than 30% of household income towards rent. For homeowners, this means paying no more than 30% of household income towards the cost of principal, interest, taxes and homeowner's insurance. This report is aimed primarily at the affordability of housing to households at or below 80% of the median income for the Georgetown area. census, this translates to households earning $48,734 or less. Using 2010 income data from the Primary Issues Addressed by this Study Georgetown's Housing Advisory Board identified two issues to be addressed by this study: • What is the unmet need for housing? • What positive steps can we take to expand the supply of affordable housing for lower income households in Georgetown? 3 Three Geographic Areas of Analysis The first geographic area considered in this study is the current municipal boundary of the City of Georgetown. In spatial terms, the City continues to grow. From 2000 to 2010, the City of Georgetown annexed almost 17,000 acres into the municipal corporate limits, more than doubling the geographic size of the City. The second area is all of Williamson County. This provides reference for the area immediately surrounding Georgetown. Similar to the City, the County has also experienced significant growth in the last two decades. For some statistics, a third area of the Austin -Round Rock -San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is included. This provides a larger point of reference for the entire Central Texas region. Why do so many people want to live in Georgetown? Georgetown has evolved from a sleepy, small town to a rapidly growing city that is the center of county government and an area that provides goods and services to consumers within the region. Many former Austin residents have migrated to Georgetown and its environs to escape the high cost of housing and traffic congestion. In 2008, Georgetown was named the second "Best Place to Live and Launch a Small Business" by Money Magazine. The City's 2008 Citizen Quality of Life Survey revealed that residents cherish the community spirit, natural environment and small town character found in Georgetown. Sun City Texas has become a retirement destination for over 6,500 older households. A significant portion of Georgetown's growth in population can be attributed to the popularity of Sun City. Younger households have sought out Georgetown as a living environment because of the lower relative cost of living, the good public school system, and the easy commute to work. The City has experienced a surge in population. Between 1990 and 2000, Georgetown's population grew by 11,673. From 2000 to 2010, the City's annual population increase averaged 1,906 persons, more than 60% above the annual increase during the 1990s. However, the highest annual growth rates were observed in Williamson County. There, the annual growth rate exploded from an average annual increase of 11,042 persons in the 1990s to 21,603 since 2000. Population Growth 500,000 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 m-E—City of Georgetown 250,000 200,000 --&—Williamson County 150,000 100,000 50,000 - 0 1990 2000 2010 Georgetown's vibrant economy drives the housing market Fundamentally, the housing market is a reflection of growth in the local economy. New jobs and increases in household income fuel the demand for housing. Williamson County's economy is expanding and its workforce is increasing significantly. As the second fastest-growing county in Texas, Williamson County experienced a 69% surge in population since 2000. The robust economy tied to the technology industry, as well as the retail and service sectors, added 42,000 jobs in the county between 2003 and 2007. Many of Georgetown's residents commute to employment destinations outside of the county. Although 56,552 residents both live and work in Williamson County, another 71,087 residents commute to jobs outside of the county. Traveling in the opposite direction, 32,935 people drive to Williamson County from areas outside of the county to work. The daily out -migration of workers characterizes Williamson County as a bedroom community for Austin and Travis County. Residents are willing to travel longer distances to work in exchange for the advantages of home ownership in Williamson County. Bell -1.201 -163 973 Milam 2.198 -318 Williamson Burnet./ 711 1.635 919 11 SSI 230 66.756 11 -339 Travis -317 Hays Bastrop Bexar -199 Every household needs a dwelling More so than population growth, housing demand in Georgetown is being generated by household formation. Household growth in Georgetown and its environs is part of a national trend that involves a number of factors such as longer life expectancy, young people remaining single for a longer period of time, couples marrying later in life and an increase in divorces. Each one of these events creates a new household. Demand is created because every household needs a dwelling. During the 1990s, household growth outpaced population growth in Georgetown. The household growth rate of 81% was significantly higher than the population growth rate of 70%. This trend has continued through the 2000s as households grew by 81% and population by 67% 6 The market responds by adding more than 9,000 new homes Favorable economic, demographic and market trends caused the City's housing supply to expand dramatically. New construction added more than 9,000 units in Georgetown. Sun City accounted for nearly 3,000 of these homes. Overall, Williamson County witnessed the creation of over 72,000 new housing units between 2000 and 2010. Not all Georgetown residents are wealthy Even in the midst of a relatively steady economy and housing market there remain a significant segment of Georgetown residents that struggle to make ends meet. Forty percent of all City households had incomes of less than $50,000 in 2010. Moreover, 27% of all households in 2010 were cost burdened and paying more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs. Many of these individuals are employed in service industries, which provide 73% of the jobs, located in Williamson County. These jobs are typically among the lowest -skill, lowest wage jobs of the employment spectrum, providing employment opportunities in retail, arts and entertainment, and food and accommodations. In the past five years, forty percent of all new jobs added in the county were in the service sector. Williamson County's rental housing wage was $18.35 in 2010 In Williamson County, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $954. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn a monthly income of $3,180. Assuming a 40 -hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $18.35 per hour. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner (making $7.25/hour in 2008) must work 101 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, a household must include 2.53 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two- bedroom FMR affordable. Many occupations such as waiters, retail clerks and construction laborers are necessary for the economic vitality and success of a community. These "vital community occupations" are generally found at the lower and mid-range of the income scale, and, therefore, these workers can find it difficult to rent a decent dwelling unit. Based on the housing wage of $18.35, waiters, cashiers, retail salespersons, and construction laborers could not afford to rent a one -bedroom unit costing $783 per month as single -wage earning households. Entry level firefighters could afford the one - bedroom FMR but not the two-bedroom FMR. Elementary school teachers, accountants and registered nurses could afford a one -bedroom unit or a two-bedroom unit, even as single -wage earning households. Georgetown's Housing Market Real median household income has decreased 16% since 2000, meaning overall 50% of Georgetown households are making less money than they did 10 years ago. In the Georgetown East market (i.e., east of I-35), the median housing sales price declined 3.9% from 2000 to 2010, after adjusting for inflation. In the Georgetown West market (i.e., west of I-35), the median sales price decreased 5.9%, after adjusting for inflation. While the market has registered a decrease in home prices, the decrease in household income has made the housing market less affordable to existing households. Georgetown's Affordable Housing Stock The median household income in the City was $60,917 in 2010. With this income, a household could purchase a home selling for $167,520. In 2010, there were a total of 417 units that sold for $167,000 or less. This was equivalent to 41.5% of the 1,004 total N4LS sales transactions. A relatively affordable housing market is one in which households at the median household income could purchase at least 40% of the homes. The Georgetown market currently meets this threshold. Between 2010 and 2012, a total of 495 sales transactions involved housing units that sold for $134,000 or less. This price was affordable to a household earning up to 80% of the City's median household income. These 495 units represented 24% of the total 2,083 sales transactions between 2010 and 2012. Sales Housing in Georgetown is Becoming Unaffordable Some households in Georgetown with incomes between 60% and 80% of the median area income can find affordable homes in the marketplace. With respect to sales housing, the total affordable housing supply (726) is less than the total affordable housing demand (2,295) for the period 2010- 2017. The local housing market is not addressing the need for affordable sales housing as evidenced by the number of new and existing sales units that sold for $134,000 or less (495 units). Hourly Wage Needed to Afford the HUD Fair Market Rents, 2010 $35.00 $29.74 531.42 $30.00 $25.00 23.84 $24.69 $20.00 $19.38 $20.14 $15os $15.00 $1136 11.91 $10.00 gg $5.00 $0.00 a ¢� yrec ei°e� ,O°yet ety°° Q�Q. 'c`ec Q�Q� orea ,ti\4et crec Q�rt. `a�. J�'e c`ac� Va K�9 `ef.°i ba ,`ea ep lea as GaQ as °J e e \e �.' . ry \ v \ 'S e ae eu 1�0 J°`�° \�'a ati°� �e\� \°i op°° \Q°\� Lc°° a\°� F�� `y \e P d \a a \e ea 5 aQeQ CP QP Q -e aeea 0c�� ?eea c�ti `�\ya c�ai,� �eea Q- F°° V. Georgetown's Affordable Housing Deficit Consists of Rental Units Georgetown made good progress in increasing the supply of affordable rental housing in the 2000s. However, Georgetown still has a higher demand for affordable rental units than supply. This is due to the growth of lower -wage jobs and, subsequently, lower income households. An additional 3,082 units will be needed in Georgetown to sufficiently address the rental housing need for households with incomes at or below 80% of the area's median income. However, the 180 affordable rental units estimated to be available between 2012 and 2017 will address only a fraction of the affordable housing deficit. An additional 2,902 affordable rental housing units will be needed to meet the unmet demand through 2017. Why address the need The availability of housing for people at all income levels should be treated as an important issue in Georgetown. For a city to be viable and sustainable in the long term, housing choices should be available to those that want to live and work within the same city. Viability and Support of the Citizens The provision of work force housing is important for the continued viability of Georgetown. A readily available pool of service employees is essential for the day-to-day operations required by the residents of the city. Having teachers, firefighters, police and utility workers able to live within the community they serve allows the workforce to be more efficient and connected with the community they serve. In addition, in the event of an emergency or natural disaster, firefighters, police and utility workers will be onsite to provide immediate assistance. With less time spent on commuting to and from work, employees will have more free time, be less tired from travel and be more productive at work. 9 .. $9.45 $9.71 Georgetown's Affordable Housing Deficit Consists of Rental Units Georgetown made good progress in increasing the supply of affordable rental housing in the 2000s. However, Georgetown still has a higher demand for affordable rental units than supply. This is due to the growth of lower -wage jobs and, subsequently, lower income households. An additional 3,082 units will be needed in Georgetown to sufficiently address the rental housing need for households with incomes at or below 80% of the area's median income. However, the 180 affordable rental units estimated to be available between 2012 and 2017 will address only a fraction of the affordable housing deficit. An additional 2,902 affordable rental housing units will be needed to meet the unmet demand through 2017. Why address the need The availability of housing for people at all income levels should be treated as an important issue in Georgetown. For a city to be viable and sustainable in the long term, housing choices should be available to those that want to live and work within the same city. Viability and Support of the Citizens The provision of work force housing is important for the continued viability of Georgetown. A readily available pool of service employees is essential for the day-to-day operations required by the residents of the city. Having teachers, firefighters, police and utility workers able to live within the community they serve allows the workforce to be more efficient and connected with the community they serve. In addition, in the event of an emergency or natural disaster, firefighters, police and utility workers will be onsite to provide immediate assistance. With less time spent on commuting to and from work, employees will have more free time, be less tired from travel and be more productive at work. 9 Economic Stability The availability of housing at all price levels also provides for a direct economic benefit to the city. New retail, manufacturing and commercial businesses look at a variety of factors when exploring new locations for expansion. These prospective employers will be drawn to a community that already has a readily available local workforce supported by affordable housing alternatives in the city of their employment. Combined with the many positive economic development attributes that Georgetown already contains, the city will be in a better position to draw new businesses. Additionally, with a workforce that is able to live and work within the same location, individuals and families are able to participate more in community activities, shop locally and contribute to the tax base, which will greatly benefit Georgetown. Diversity of Comm Unity Having a variety of housing choices promotes a diverse community that has households of different sizes, cultures and age groups_ Young adults and seniors often desire smaller housing with easy to manage maintenance, while families with children require more square footage and yards in which to play. With the changing demographics, different cultures have cross - generational households that require options that meet their size and structure. A diversity of households and family structures provides the city with a mix of residents that can bring a variety of skills and experiences to educate and help each other. Social Responsibility It is important to offer reasonable choices to residents as their circumstances change. As heads of households may find themselves laid -off or temporarily jobless, affordable housing for economically disadvantaged and temporarily disadvantaged individuals and families becomes important. It allows current residents to stay in the community where they are already established. Availability of handicapped accessible homes as well as housing available to fixed income households is also an issue, especially in an aging community such as Georgetown. By addressing the current housing deficits and increasing the availability of housing for various income levels through the following recommendations, Georgetown will continue to provide a community that adequately supports its existing residents, attracts new economic growth and fosters an environment in which residents can thrive. 10 Recommendations These recommendations offer a series of procedures which, when undertaken in whole or in part, offer the potential to reduce the affordable housing deficit in the City of Georgetown. These recommendations are ranked in order of their priority with a time frame for considering implementation. High Priority (One to five years) 1. Develop a program through which workforce housing developers can receive incentives to provide new units. 2. Determine suitable multifamily zoning locations with sufficient services and land use compatibility for an appropriate mix of housing variety within the city. Medium High Priority (Five to seven years) 3. Continue the Housing Diversity density incentives for new residential construction. 4. Prioritize the use of HUD CDBG funds for affordable housing. 5. Strengthen home buyer counseling and support services. Medium Priority (Seven to ten years) 6. Seek out County CDBG funds and State HOME funds in support of affordable housing initiatives; subcontract with local nonprofits to implement projects 7. Identify revitalization areas for concentrated investment. 11 1. Introduction Purpose of the Study The City of Georgetown is in the constant process of reviewing and updating its Comprehensive Plan. The City of Georgetown Comprehensive Plan has specific elements that are required by the City Charter, a Housing Element being one of them. Additionally, the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Framework states as vision for the city that "Georgetown residents respond to the needs of all economic levels of residents through the provision of affordable housing and adequate and accessible health and social service." (Quality of Life 1.2.G) More importantly, however, the City will use the information contained in this report to implement feasible and practical strategies that address the increasing need for housing at all price points for households that wish to live and work in Georgetown. Background The need for affordable housing in Georgetown was affirmed in 2005 when the City Council of Georgetown appointed the Affordable Housing Task Force to examine the availability of such housing and possible strategies that could be implemented. In the spring of 2006, the Task Force recommended three specific actions to begin addressing the local housing situation. These recommendations included the creation of a Housing Advisory Board, hiring a full-time housing coordinator, and the creation of a Housing Master Plan. The City Council adopted all three recommendations. In June 2006, the Housing Advisory Board was established. By March 2007, the Housing Coordinator was employed and the City's new Housing and Neighborhood Development Department was established. The primary goals of the Housing Coordinator were to (1) oversee the development of the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan, (2) coordinate public/private affordable housing initiatives, and (3) secure available financial resources, such as CDBG and HOME Partnership funding from HUD. This study is the first step toward achieving these goals and will be used to establish a housing policy for the City of Georgetown. The purposes of the Housing Element are to: Identify demographic and economic trends that affect the demand for housing Define the Georgetown housing market area and the supply and demand characteristics of that housing market Analyze the demand for housing Recommend actions and initiatives aimed at expanding the supply of housing at different price levels. What is Affordable Housing? For this study, lower income households are defined as those with an annual income at or below 80% of the area median household income. Affordable housing is defined as paying no more than 30% of gross household income for housing expenses including mortgage or rent, plus utilities, regardless of income level. One of the goals of this study is to determine whether there is an 13 adequate supply of affordable sales and rental housing to meet the needs of households at or below 80% of median household income in the Georgetown housing market area. Defining the Georgetown Housing Market Area Three geographic levels were examined for analysis and comparison with the surrounding area. The corporate city limits of Georgetown is the first geographic level studied. Since 2000, the City of Georgetown has annexed 17,000 acres into the municipal corporate limits, more than doubling the geographic size of the City. This action was driven primarily by a City policy that advocated municipal control over private development and the desire to control land development more efficiently through zoning.' The 2010 Census city limits reflected these changes in the new municipal boundary and no major annexations have taken place at the time of this study that greatly affect the current city limit numbers. The second geographic area is the entirety of Williamson County. Comparison to this area provides insight into trends that are regional versus Georgetown specific. A third geographic area that is available for some statistics is the Austin -Round Rock -San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The use of these three geographical regions is based mainly on data availability. Due to changes in survey methods and data gathering, Census information is available in different reports, different geographical levels and is released on a different schedule than in the past. Most tables have been updated using the recent U.S. Decennial Census and 2008- 2010 American Community Survey 3 -Year estimates. I City of Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan, pages 3-10. 14 How this Document is Organized In addition to the Executive Summary and this Introduction section, the Housing Element includes three sections. Part 2 includes the Demographic Profile of Georgetown. In this chapter, population and household growth, the housing and economic profiles and housing affordability are compared and analyzed. Part 3 includes the step-by-step methodology utilized in determining the total affordable housing deficit in Georgetown. The final section of this report, Part4 includes a series of specific public policy recommendations that can assist the City and community in meeting the City of Georgetown's affordable housing needs over the next five years and beyond. 15 2. Demographic Summary population and household growth trends are a driving force for the regional housing markets. Variables such as expanding population, decreasing household size, new household formation, and migration determine housing demand. While demographics are not the primary determining factor in future trends of a housing market, they are a key indicator of the size and nature of demand for housing. The following section examines current population trends as well as population projections. Subsequent analysis examines household growth projections to 2012 and the resulting housing demand forecast. Population Williamson County was the second fastest-growing county in Texas between 2000 and 2010. Only Rockwall County, just outside of Dallas, had a higher rate of growth. This trend appears to be continuing. The July 2011 Census Bureau population estimate ranked Round Rock and Austin respectively as the second and third fastest-growing U.S. cities with a population over 100,000. County Population Growth Rates, 2010 County Rate of Population Growth 2000-2010 Rockw all 81.8% Williamson 69.1% Fort Bend 65.1% Hays 61.0% Collin 59.1% IVIont ornery 55.1% Denton 53.0% Guadalupe 47.8% Kaufman 44.9% Kendall 40.7% Source: U.S. Census, Texas Data Center Central Texas has seen great increases in population for the last two decades. New residents are relocating to the area from other parts of the nation and state. Williamson County also experience growth from new residents relocating from Travis County. Total Population Trends, 1990-2010 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for 1990-2010 data; 17 City of Georgetown Williamson County Texas 1990 16,666 139,547 16,986,510 2000 28,339 249,967 20,851,820 2010 47,400 422,679 25,145,561 Change 1990- 2010 1 184% 203% 48% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for 1990-2010 data; 17 Since 2005, Georgetown has exceeded Williamson County on the annual rate of change. All areas saw decreases in the rate of change from 2002-2004 and 2008-2010, which corresponds to the economic downturns. Annual Rate of Change in Population, 2000-2010 12% 10% 8% e City of Georgetown 6% tWilliamson County —t—Austin-Round Rock MSA 4% 2% 0% 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 From 2000 to 2010, Georgetown, with an overall growth in population at 67%, kept pace with Williamson County, which had a 69% growth. The growth rate in both areas exceeded the 37% population growth of the Austin -Round Rock -San Marcos MSA. Annual Population Trends, 2000-2010 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for all 2000 & 2010 data; for 2001- 2009 data Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University IN City of Georgetown Williamson County Austin -Round Rock MSA 2000 28,339 249,967 1,249,763 2001 31,248 276,661 1,325,305 2002 32,889 289,969 1,355,241 2003 34,367 302,716 1,385,723 2004 1 35,631 316,508 1,423,161 2005 37,584 332,159 1,469,346 2006 40,306 350,879 1,532,281 2007 43,286 373,363 1,598,161 2008 45,236 395,146 1,654,100 2009 46,492 410,686 1,705,075 2010 1 47,400 422,679 1,716,289 Change 2000-2010 67% 69% 37% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for all 2000 & 2010 data; for 2001- 2009 data Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University IN With the population growth, the trends in age have continued to indicate that the median age of Georgetown has been increasing faster than the surrounding area. Median Age, 1990-2010 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 1990 1990 2000 2010 City of Georgetown 30.6 36.3 44 Williamson County 30.1 32.5 34.2 Austin -Round Rock MSA 29.6 31 32.6 Texas 30.7 32.4 33.6 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 1990 Trends in MedianAge,1990.2010 tCity of Georgetown ---- Wiliamson County —*—Austin -Round Rock MSA --*—Texas 90% ■ 1 2000 2010 The 60 to 65 age group increased by 132%, a larger increase than any other age cohort in Georgetown. In 2010, 38.2% of Georgetown residents were 55 year or older, compared to Williamson County at 18.4% and the MSA at 17.7%. This is due in large part to the growth of the Sun City retirement community, which added over 4,000 new homes in the last decade. 100% I� Ili ■ Comparison of Age Cohorts, 1990-2010 90% ■ 1 ■ 80% 7040 60% 50% 40% 3045 20% o% ■ aUnder 66 �d68 Older � � 19 I� Ili ■ ■ ■ ■ 1 ■ ■ � � 19 Changes in Households The Census Bureau defines "population" as "all people, male and female, child and adult, living in a given geographic area." The term "household" is defined to include "all the people who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence." When describing housing markets and housing need, focusing the discussion on households is more relevant and accurate because each household requires a dwelling unit while several people may comprise the same household and live in the same housing unit. In other words, calculating housing need on the basis of the number of households in a geographic area is much more accurate than calculating housing need based on the number of persons. Over the last two decades, household growth outpaced population growth. From 2000-2010, the City's household growth rate of 81% exceeded the population growth rate of 67%. While this trend parallels national trends, it is doing so at a higher rate. Household Growth Trends, 1990-2010 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for 1990-2010 Jet -- The effect of this growth trend is smaller for average household sizes. Since 2000, the average household size has decreased by 0.15 persons per household. This statistic is largely due to rapid growth in the 55 and over age group, which typically have no children. The average household size for the Census Tracts that cover the Sun City area was 1.8 persons per household. Trends in Average Household Sizes, 1990-2010 1990 2000 Percent City of Georgetown 2.69 Percent 2.38 Williamson County Average Change 2.74 Average Change 2.57 2.58 Annual from 2.74 Annual from 1990 2000 Chane 1990-2000 2010 Chane 2000-2010 City of Georgetown 5,730 10,389 466 81% 18,830 81;6 bVilliamson County 48,790 86,7661 37798 787E 1 152,6061 76?b Austin -Round Rock MSA 325,996 471,S.EEI 14, 5M 1 45% 1 650,4591 17.3 0 38% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau for 1990-2010 Jet -- The effect of this growth trend is smaller for average household sizes. Since 2000, the average household size has decreased by 0.15 persons per household. This statistic is largely due to rapid growth in the 55 and over age group, which typically have no children. The average household size for the Census Tracts that cover the Sun City area was 1.8 persons per household. Trends in Average Household Sizes, 1990-2010 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 20 1990 2000 2010 City of Georgetown 2.69 2.53 2.38 Williamson County 2.81 2.82 2.74 Austin -Round Rock MSA 2.50 2.57 2.58 Texas 2.73 2.74 2.75 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 20 It is also interesting to note that a comparison of the rental versus owner average household sizes show our rental units have more occupants than owner occupied units. This is counter to the trend in Williamson County, the Austin -Round Rock -San Marcos MSA, and the State of Texas. Trends in Average Household Sizes, 1990-2010 2010 Rental Owner All Housing City of Georgetown 2.50 2.34 2.38 Williamson County 2.49 2.85 2.74 Austin -Round Rock MSA 2.32 2.76 2.58 Texas 2.54 2.87 2.75 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 21 Income Income is broader than wages and represents the total funds available to a household. The Census defines income as the sum of the amounts reported separately for wage plus interest, dividends, or net rental or royalty income or income from estates and trusts; social security or railroad retirement income; Supplemental Security Income; public assistance or welfare payments; retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and, all other income. The term "real income" refers to income that has been adjusted for inflation. Income trends can reveal the financial capacity of a region to support new housing construction, modernization of older housing units, and regular maintenance of existing units. Lower income households will have greater difficulty meeting the most basic of needs such as food and clothing, and generally have less disposable income to save toward a down payment to rent or purchase a home, or to make necessary repairs on an older housing unit. Median household income is often the benchmark against which housing affordability is measured. The median household income is the middle of the income range: one-half of all households in an area have an income higher than the median and the other half have an income lower than the median. The median household income in Georgetown in 2010 was $60,917. This represented a decrease in real median household income of 16% from 2000. All other areas also registered decreases, but at lower rates. Household income growth since 2000 has been very sluggish. The income gains achieved since 2000 are only a fraction of what they were in the previous decade. Real median household income increased 5% or less in all areas. Changes in Real Median Household Income 1990-2010 "Adjusted to 2000 dollars "Adjusted to 2010 dollars With the decrease in real income, the distribution of households by income was greater at the lower income ranges, with 41% of Georgetown households making less than $50,000 a year. This is a shift from 2000 where the distributions were fairly equal. 22 City of Georgetown Williamson County Austin - Round Rock MSA Texas 1990-2000 1990 Real Median Household Income" $39,714 $44,590 $36,930 $35,623 2000 Median Household Income $57,183 $60,775 $49,025 $39,933 % Change 1990-2000 44% 36% 33% 12% 2000-2010 2000 Real Median Household Income— $72,410 $76,959 $62,080 $50,567 2010 Median Household Income $60,917 $67,168 $56,712 $49,585 % Change 2000-2007 -16% -13% -9% -2% "Adjusted to 2000 dollars "Adjusted to 2010 dollars With the decrease in real income, the distribution of households by income was greater at the lower income ranges, with 41% of Georgetown households making less than $50,000 a year. This is a shift from 2000 where the distributions were fairly equal. 22 Distribution of Households by Income, 2000-2010 2000 Census, 2008-2010 American Community Survey 3-YearEstimates Housing Market The housing market is made up of the sales of new and existing individual housing units, as well as rental units in the multi -family properties. The availability of a variety of housing types at various price levels enables a community to respond to changes in households' economic circumstances. The Census collects data on the value of all of the owner -occupied units if they were to be sold. From 2000 to 2010, the real median value of housing units in Georgetown only increased by 3%, while all other areas increased by a greater amount. This leveled out the difference in home values in the area, as Georgetown saw a much larger increase in values over the previous decade. Change in Median Housing Value, 1990-2010 City of Georgetown, 2000 Williamson County, 2000 City of Georgetown, 2010 Williamson County, 2010 Less than $50,000 31% 28% 41% 34% $50,000 to $99,999 37% 41% 37% 39% $100,000 and higher 1 31% 32% 22% 27% 2000 Census, 2008-2010 American Community Survey 3-YearEstimates Housing Market The housing market is made up of the sales of new and existing individual housing units, as well as rental units in the multi -family properties. The availability of a variety of housing types at various price levels enables a community to respond to changes in households' economic circumstances. The Census collects data on the value of all of the owner -occupied units if they were to be sold. From 2000 to 2010, the real median value of housing units in Georgetown only increased by 3%, while all other areas increased by a greater amount. This leveled out the difference in home values in the area, as Georgetown saw a much larger increase in values over the previous decade. Change in Median Housing Value, 1990-2010 *In 2010 dollars Source: US Census When comparing the change in median housing values and median household income, the gap between increasing housing values continues to outpace the household income. This trend was similar for all geographic areas. Change in Median Housing Value and Median Household Income, 2000-2010 (in 2010 dollars) :]Georgetown 1990 2000 Change 1990-2000 2000* 2010 Change 2000- 2010 City of Georgetown $97,053 $141,413 46% $179,071 $183,600 3% Williamson County $95,150 $120,685 27% $152,823 $175,700 15% Austin -Round Rock MSA $98,489 $122,866 25% $155,585 $187,700 21% Texas $78,5441 $82,449 5% $104,4051 $127,4001 22% US $103,270 $115,194 12% $145,870 $187,500 29% *In 2010 dollars Source: US Census When comparing the change in median housing values and median household income, the gap between increasing housing values continues to outpace the household income. This trend was similar for all geographic areas. Change in Median Housing Value and Median Household Income, 2000-2010 (in 2010 dollars) :]Georgetown City of Williamson County Austin - Round Rock MSA Texas Median Housing Value 2000-2010 1 3% 1 15% 1 21% 1 22% Median Household Income 2000-2010 1 -16% 1 -13% 1 -9% -2 23 When looking at housing sales data, it is clear that the decrease in value of the housing stock has lead to a decrease in sales prices. In 2010, houses for sale were staying on the market longer and selling for less than in previous years. Overview of Georgetown Housinq Sales Data, 2010 Median List Price Median Sales Price Average DOM Transactions Georgetown East $139,900 $135,250 123 256 Georgetow n West $215,450 $208,500 139 748 Total Georgetow n Market $192,500 $185,000 135 1,004 Williamson County Association of Reaftors® Multiple Listing Service Over the last decade, the real sales price of houses has decrease 4% on the east side of Georgetown, and 6% on the west side. While the price of housing has decreased, the decrease in median household income has been more severe, effectively making ownership opportunities more expensive. Changes in Median Sales Price and Median Household Income, 2000-2010 (in 2010 dollars) 'Calculated for the City of Georgetown Trends in Median Sales Prices, 2000-2011 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 —Georgetown East +Georgetown West $100,000 $50,000 $0 ON c`7 �' 4-) O r OD O O O o o O o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N N N N N N N N N N N N 24 Georgetown East Georgetown West Change in Median Sales Price 2000 to 2010 -3.9% -5.9% Change in Median Household Income' 2000 to 2010 F -16% 'Calculated for the City of Georgetown Trends in Median Sales Prices, 2000-2011 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 —Georgetown East +Georgetown West $100,000 $50,000 $0 ON c`7 �' 4-) O r OD O O O o o O o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N N N N N N N N N N N N 24 Housing Affordablility For Housing to be considered as affordable to a household, they must pay no more than 30% of gross household income for housing expenses, including mortgage or rent, utilities, insurance, and taxes, regardless of income level. When a household pays more than this amount, it is considered cost burdened. In 2010, the median sales price of home in Georgetown East was $135,250 and in Georgetown West was $208,500. Based on these prices, a household would require a minimum income of $54,100 in order to afford a home selling for the median sales price in Georgetown East. This income amount is equivalent to 89% of the median household income of $60,917. In the Georgetown West area, a minimum income of $80,192 would be required to purchase the median priced home, equivalent to 132% of the median household income. The following chart lists the median annual wages paid in 2010 for several job classifications in Williamson County. Of the 13 occupations listed, only three could afford to purchase a home selling for the median sales price in Georgetown East, and none could purchase a home in Georgetown West, as a single -wage earning household. Source: Texas Workforce Commission, City of Georgetown 25 Annual Income Needed to Afford Median Sales Priced Home, 2010 90,000 80,000 $80,192 70,000 S61 67$65,354 $68,952 60,000 $49,594 50,000 $41,885 40,000 30,000 '666 $20,197 ' 20,000 10,000 °\ee Qay` JHe y��� ae'(e� �a``e� ayret 5e<'e' 1�`9c c`aca 01� eAli Q°ce�Q G c\ I'llyQ to -le .�c Ga OOJ sic eat °Zye .°O 9a�e e�F �e° o\ ems° �`e pec P° ego O Or Q &0 e0`Oi a c °aQtP' G°Cy~`J4 eC`t' ea` aC Q° F teea se Fe e ° o� Source: Texas Workforce Commission, City of Georgetown 25 The Housing and Urban Development Department annually determines the Fair Market Rent that is required to rent housing based on the number of bedrooms. In 2010, the FMR for a three bedroom unit in Georgetown was $1,284. Based on the incomes of the same 13 occupations, only the top three could afford this rental rate. For a two bedroom unit, the monthly rent was $954, which would be available to three more workforce categories. A one bedroom unit monthly rent was $783, which included an additional category. Of the 13 occupations, five of the job classifications would not be able to afford a market rate unit in Georgetown as a single -wage earning household. Source: Texas Workforce Commission, City of Georgetown, Housing & Urban Development 26 Hourly Wage Needed to Afford the HUD Fair Market Rents, 2010 $40.00 $23.84 $24.69 $35.00 $19.38 $20.14 $30.00 $15.D6 $25.00 8 59 F-1 $11.36 - $9.45 $9.71 I-1 $20.00 $15.00 91 $10.00 $5.00 fl LJ LJ LJ LJ $0.00 `e` �Q '0-�ea4rec �Q e�Armec Oe' �0a4r0� G�Q�p a�J�e °Jc`aca 6�yrgt a\�e`,et yam°�e� yQO�yor e �. c �e 0 q roe i�° "0' �o \ye ako� Jet a"0' 4•C° q0 G,co e� yS era ae .e ae 5 ,e\ 5 aea �eA dee dee �e6 aQi G°c c`P� �t1�e eotia�� �,c�� �a�e c` Source: Texas Workforce Commission, City of Georgetown, Housing & Urban Development 26 $29-74 $31.42 $23.84 $24.69 $19.38 $20.14 $15.D6 8 59 F-1 $11.36 - $9.45 $9.71 I-1 Source: Texas Workforce Commission, City of Georgetown, Housing & Urban Development 26 3. Existing and Projected Demand for Affordable Housing The demand for affordable housing is comprised of both existing demand and projected demand. Existing demand for affordable housing is based on the number of households in the study area that are living in inadequate housing. Pn�ected demand is based on the net increase in the number of lower income households expected to reside in the study area. The combination of existing and projected demand provides an estimate of the overall demand for affordable housing units in the City of Georgetown for 2010 to 2017. The time frame selected for projecting affordable housing need for this study is 2012 to 2017. Population and household projection data were obtained for this five-year period from City staff. In determining the extent of affordable housing need, it is important to identify the type of need in order to develop an appropriate strategy to address the need. For example, cost burdened renter households would benefit from rental subsidies while renter households living in substandard physical conditions would benefit from new construction activities. Cost burdened owner households, particularly those residing in older dwelling units, may benefit from rehabilitation, which includes weatherization improvements to lower monthly utility bills, thereby decreasing total monthly housing costs. Existing Affordable Housing Demand, 2010 To quantify existing demand, households with housing problems were identified utilizing the U.S. Census American Community Survey 3 -Year estimates. Housing problems included the following two characteristics: (1) households who were cost burdened and paying more than 30% of income on monthly housing costs, and (2) households who were living in dwelling units with physical deficiencies (overcrowded conditions and/or without complete plumbing or kitchen facilities). The data used for this report is collected by the Census annually and compiled into estimates every three years that include cost burdened households and households living in physically deficient units. The American Communities Survey replaces the long -form Census that was previously only sampled with the decennial Census. Surveying yearly provides more timely data for projection purposes. This report focuses on households with incomes equal to 80% or less of the median household income, collectively referred to as lower income households, as defined by HUD. In 2010, the median household income (MHI) ranged from $60,917 in the City of Georgetown to $67,168 in Williamson County. Affordable housing demand was calculated according to the following income groups within each area: Extremely low income households (0% up to 30% MHI) Very low income households (30% up to 50% MHI) Low income households (50% up to 80% MHI). While median household income is used throughout this document, the following table describes households with housing problems that are based on the HUD median family income. The HUD median family income in 2010 was $74,039 for Georgetown and $77,423 for Williamson County. 27 While this income amount is different from the median household income, the Census data is the only source describing cost burden households and households residing in physically -deficient units. The existing affordable housing demand in the City of Georgetown is 2,219 housing units. This number is comprised of 439 lower income households (350 renters and 89 owners) residing in physically -deficient housing units. In addition, another 4,883 households (2,327 renters and 2,556 owners) were identified as cost burdened and paying more than 30% of their income on monthly housing costs. In the remainder of Williamson County, there were 2,425 lower income households (1,065 renters and 921 owners) living in physically -deficient housing units. Cost burden was identified for another 42,912 households (18,094 renters and 24,818 owners). Households with Housing Problems, 2010 Note: Data is available only for the City of Georgetown and Williamson County. Sauce: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Estimates Projected Demand for Affordable Housing, 2010 to 2012 Household projections by income group were calculated by City staff and clustered into the same three categories used for existing affordable housing demand. The following figure lists the projected change in the total number of households by income group between 2010 and 2012. The increases are projected to occur among higher income households. In the City of Georgetown, new higher income households will outnumber new lower income households by more than 2 to 1. The number of new households above 80% of median is projected to increase by 1,751 while the number of new lower income households is projected to increase by 798. In Williamson County outside of Georgetown, the number of new higher income households is projected to increase by 22,010 compared to 8,295 new lower income households. New lower income households will comprise less than thirty percent of all new households in Williamson County by 2017. Of the 22,010 total new households projected by 2017 in the County, 8,295 are projected to be lower income. This is equivalent to 27% of the total new households to be created. Renter Households Remainder of City of Williamson Georgetown County Owner Households Remainder of City of Williamson Georgetown County All Households Remainder of City of Williamson Georgetown County All Households 5,642 41,515 12,157 88,921 17,799 130,436 Extremely Low Income Households 0% up to 30% of MHI 1,460 6,281 767 4,009 2,227 10,290 Cost burdened (paying more than 30%) 1,316 6,047 599 3,335 1,915 9,382 Very Low Income Households 31% up to 50% of MHI 619 8,339 1,293 6,4241 1,912 14,763 Cost burdened (paying more than 30%) 458 7,274 781 4,302 1,239 11,576 Low Income Households 51% up to 80% of MHQ 1,341 7,561 1,759 10,081 3,100 17,642 Cost burdened (paying more than 30%) 520 3,016 484 5,902 1,004 8,918 Other Income Households above 80% of MHI 2,13417,960 8,338 68,407 10,472 86,367 Cost burdened (paying more than 30%) 33 1,757 692 11,279 725 13,036 Physical deficiencies to unit 350 1,065 89 921 439 2,425 Note: Data is available only for the City of Georgetown and Williamson County. Sauce: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Estimates Projected Demand for Affordable Housing, 2010 to 2012 Household projections by income group were calculated by City staff and clustered into the same three categories used for existing affordable housing demand. The following figure lists the projected change in the total number of households by income group between 2010 and 2012. The increases are projected to occur among higher income households. In the City of Georgetown, new higher income households will outnumber new lower income households by more than 2 to 1. The number of new households above 80% of median is projected to increase by 1,751 while the number of new lower income households is projected to increase by 798. In Williamson County outside of Georgetown, the number of new higher income households is projected to increase by 22,010 compared to 8,295 new lower income households. New lower income households will comprise less than thirty percent of all new households in Williamson County by 2017. Of the 22,010 total new households projected by 2017 in the County, 8,295 are projected to be lower income. This is equivalent to 27% of the total new households to be created. Projected Change in Households by Income Category, 2000-2012 Source: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Ertimater, Cily of Georgetown calirrlationr. The net increase of 1,713 new lower income households in the City of Georgetown represents the projected affordable housing demand. This number is comprised of 875 extremely low income households, plus 93 very low-income households, plus 745 low-income households. The increase in total households will occur as a result of new household formation within the existing population and the migration of new households to Georgetown from elsewhere. Household changes in income groups may occur for similar reasons. Additionally, resident households may shift between income categories as a result of changes in individual financial situations. The projected demand for 798 units of affordable housing can be further refined to estimate the demand for renter units and owner units. Trends in the ratio of renters to owners from 1990, 2000, and 2010 Census data offer reasonable assumptions for future projections. The following methodology was utilized to estimate the tenure ratios for Georgetown: Among extremely loan -income households, the ratio of renters to owners was 65% to 35% in 1990; 2000, the ratio was 62% to 38%; by 2010 the ratio was 69% to 31%. Given the increase in housing costs and the potential for stricter mortgage underwriting standards, it is reasonable to assume that most of the new households in this income category will be renters. As a result, a ratio of 70% renters to 30% owners is estimated for 2017. Of the 239 households, 167 are projected to be renters and 72 are projected to be owners. 29 2010 American Communities Survey 2012 Estimate 2017 I ProjectionI Change from 2010 to 2017 Number Percent Extremely Low Income Households (0% to 30% of MHI) City of Geor etown 2,2271 2,2941 2,4661 2391 10.7% Williamson County 12,5171 13,1241 14,7141 2,1971 17.5% Very Low Income Households (30% to 50% of MHI) City of Geor etown 1,912 1,962 2,091 1799.4% Williamson County 14,763 15,7961 18,5611 3,7981 25.7% Low Income Households (50% to 80% of MHI City of Georgetowni 3,1001 3,2061 3,4801 3801 12.3% Williamson Countyl All Households up to 80% of MHI 17,6421 18,2831 19,9421 2,3001 13.0% City of Geor etown 7,239 7,4621 8,0371 798 11.0% Williamson County 44,9221 47,2031 53,2171 8,2951 18.5% All Households above 80% of MHI City of Geor etown 10,4721 10,9561 12,2231 1,751 16.7% Williamson County 96,8391 102,8601 118,8491 22,0101 22.7% Source: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Ertimater, Cily of Georgetown calirrlationr. The net increase of 1,713 new lower income households in the City of Georgetown represents the projected affordable housing demand. This number is comprised of 875 extremely low income households, plus 93 very low-income households, plus 745 low-income households. The increase in total households will occur as a result of new household formation within the existing population and the migration of new households to Georgetown from elsewhere. Household changes in income groups may occur for similar reasons. Additionally, resident households may shift between income categories as a result of changes in individual financial situations. The projected demand for 798 units of affordable housing can be further refined to estimate the demand for renter units and owner units. Trends in the ratio of renters to owners from 1990, 2000, and 2010 Census data offer reasonable assumptions for future projections. The following methodology was utilized to estimate the tenure ratios for Georgetown: Among extremely loan -income households, the ratio of renters to owners was 65% to 35% in 1990; 2000, the ratio was 62% to 38%; by 2010 the ratio was 69% to 31%. Given the increase in housing costs and the potential for stricter mortgage underwriting standards, it is reasonable to assume that most of the new households in this income category will be renters. As a result, a ratio of 70% renters to 30% owners is estimated for 2017. Of the 239 households, 167 are projected to be renters and 72 are projected to be owners. 29 Among very loin -income households, the ratio of renters to owners was 65% to 35% in 1990; 60% to 40% in 2000, and by 2010 the ratio was 37% to 63%. With this shift in trend, a conservative estimate assumes a ratio of renters to owners in 2017 could be 45% to 55%. As a result, the 179 households would be comprised of 81 renters and 99 owners. Among loan -income households, the ratio of renters to owners was 50% to 50% in 1990; 41% to 59% in 2000; and by 2010 the ratio was 52% to 48%. For the same reasons listed above, it is reasonable to assume a ratio similar to the 1990 rates of 50% renters to 50% owners. As a result, the 380 households would be comprised of 190 renters and 190 owners. Based on these assumptions, it is estimated that the 798 households can be further classified as 438 renter units and 360 owner units. Projected Affordable Housing Demand by Tenure in the City of Georgetown, 2000-2012 Sonne: 2008-2010 ACS 3-I ear Estimates, City of Georgetown caladations. Summary of Existing and Projected Affordable Housing Demand, 2010 to 2017 The total demand for affordable housing in the City of Georgetown is estimated to be 4,956 units. A combination of existing demand and projected demand is the total affordable housing demand for the year 2017. Existing demand is defined as the number of households that have housing problems (cost burden greater than 30% of income, and/or overcrowding, and/or without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities). The existing affordable housing demand in the City is 4,158 units. Projected demand for affordable housing is determined by the anticipated increase in the number of lower income households regardless of housing problems. The projected demand for affordable housing is 798 units. Note that existing demand exceedsprojected demand by 420%. The following table provides a summary of total affordable housing demand in the City of Georgetown. 30 Renter Units Owner Units Total Units Extremely Low Income Households 0% up to 30% of MHI 167 72 239 Very Low Income Households (31% up to 50% of MHI 81 99 179 Low Income Households 51% up to 80% of MHI) 190 190 380 Total Demand for Affordable Units 438 360 798 Sonne: 2008-2010 ACS 3-I ear Estimates, City of Georgetown caladations. Summary of Existing and Projected Affordable Housing Demand, 2010 to 2017 The total demand for affordable housing in the City of Georgetown is estimated to be 4,956 units. A combination of existing demand and projected demand is the total affordable housing demand for the year 2017. Existing demand is defined as the number of households that have housing problems (cost burden greater than 30% of income, and/or overcrowding, and/or without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities). The existing affordable housing demand in the City is 4,158 units. Projected demand for affordable housing is determined by the anticipated increase in the number of lower income households regardless of housing problems. The projected demand for affordable housing is 798 units. Note that existing demand exceedsprojected demand by 420%. The following table provides a summary of total affordable housing demand in the City of Georgetown. 30 Summary of Existing and Projected Affordable Housing Demand, 2010-2017 Source: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -)ear Estimates, Cato of Georgetown calculation r. Affordable Housing Supply, 2010-2017 The second step in estimating affordable housing need is to determine the extent to which housing demand is likely to be met through the existing housing inventory and any projected new housing development. This can be achieved by identifying the extent to which the current housing delivery system is already providing housing for lower income households. The existing housing inventory, current building activity, and housing programs already in place must be evaluated. Recent Housing Activity, 2010-2012 Since 2010, a total of 835 new units have been added to the City of Georgetown housing inventory. In the Georgetown East market, the median housing sales price decreased 8.2% between 2008 and 2012. The average number of days that a house remained on the market increased 32.9% from 93 to 123 days. A total of 1,056 sales transactions have been completed during the period. The Georgetown West market has been more active as indicated by a higher number of transactions (3,092) but registered a decrease -(-1.3%o) in the median housing sales price between 2008 and 2012. The average number of days that a house remained on the market, however, has increased 17.3% from 119 to 139 days and remains higher than in the Georgetown East market. These indicators suggest that demand will remain relatively stable and the cost of purchasing a home in Georgetown may decrease slightly in the near future. This is largely due to nationwide economic conditions and a shift in lending practices. As the economy continues to improve continued household growth and higher median incomes will fuel the demand for new housing. Despite increases in housing construction costs, 495 MLS sales transactions in 2010-11 were units that sold for $134,000 or less—a price affordable to households earning $48,800, equivalent to 80% of the 2010 median household income of $60,917. These 495 units represented 241/o of the 2,083 housing units sold in 2010 and 2011. Projected Housing Growth, 2012-2017 Projecting net change in the future housing supply can be difficult given the uncertainty of interest rates, construction costs, mortgage availability, developer behavior, etc. Today, one of the greatest concerns is the impact of unconventional mortgages. Increases in foreclosures could trigger a temporary increase in housing supply, but tighter lending standards may make it more difficult for potential home buyers to acquire their home. However, recent trends as well as projections of housing demand based on household formation rates provide reasonable benchmarks for likely 31 Existing Demand, 2010 Renters Owners Projected Demand, 2000 to 2017 Renters Owners Total Extremely Low Income Households (0% to 30% of MHI) 1,316 599 167 72 2,154 Very Low Income Households 31% to 50% of MHI 458 781 81 99 1,418 Low Income Households (51% to 80% of MHI) 520 484 190 190 1,384 Total Affordable Housing Demand 2,294 1,864 438 360 4,956 Source: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -)ear Estimates, Cato of Georgetown calculation r. Affordable Housing Supply, 2010-2017 The second step in estimating affordable housing need is to determine the extent to which housing demand is likely to be met through the existing housing inventory and any projected new housing development. This can be achieved by identifying the extent to which the current housing delivery system is already providing housing for lower income households. The existing housing inventory, current building activity, and housing programs already in place must be evaluated. Recent Housing Activity, 2010-2012 Since 2010, a total of 835 new units have been added to the City of Georgetown housing inventory. In the Georgetown East market, the median housing sales price decreased 8.2% between 2008 and 2012. The average number of days that a house remained on the market increased 32.9% from 93 to 123 days. A total of 1,056 sales transactions have been completed during the period. The Georgetown West market has been more active as indicated by a higher number of transactions (3,092) but registered a decrease -(-1.3%o) in the median housing sales price between 2008 and 2012. The average number of days that a house remained on the market, however, has increased 17.3% from 119 to 139 days and remains higher than in the Georgetown East market. These indicators suggest that demand will remain relatively stable and the cost of purchasing a home in Georgetown may decrease slightly in the near future. This is largely due to nationwide economic conditions and a shift in lending practices. As the economy continues to improve continued household growth and higher median incomes will fuel the demand for new housing. Despite increases in housing construction costs, 495 MLS sales transactions in 2010-11 were units that sold for $134,000 or less—a price affordable to households earning $48,800, equivalent to 80% of the 2010 median household income of $60,917. These 495 units represented 241/o of the 2,083 housing units sold in 2010 and 2011. Projected Housing Growth, 2012-2017 Projecting net change in the future housing supply can be difficult given the uncertainty of interest rates, construction costs, mortgage availability, developer behavior, etc. Today, one of the greatest concerns is the impact of unconventional mortgages. Increases in foreclosures could trigger a temporary increase in housing supply, but tighter lending standards may make it more difficult for potential home buyers to acquire their home. However, recent trends as well as projections of housing demand based on household formation rates provide reasonable benchmarks for likely 31 estimates of net change in the housing supply. The following projections are based on the assumption that no changes are made to local policies and no new policies impacting affordable housing are adopted. It is projected that an additional 2,125 housing units will be created between 2012 through 2012. The net change in the existing housing stock in the City of Georgetown between 2010 and 2012 was 832 housing units at an average annual production rate of 418 units. This production rate is projected for 2012 through 2017 as Georgetown housing market continues to recover. While lending institutions may tighten their mortgage standards, this may be off -set by the influx of well- educated and higher income households moving into the area. However, tighter mortgage standards will more than likely impact lower income households more severely than higher income households. Based on these trends and assumptions, it is projected that an additional 2,088 housing units (approximately 425 units annually over the next five years) will be created between 2012 through 2017. Of these, it is estimated that approximately 1,565 units (75%) will be single family owner - occupied units and 560 units (25%) will be multi -family renter -occupied units. Furthermore, it is projected that the private housing market will continue to favor higher income households over lower income households and owners over renters. Projected Housing Inventory, 2017 Soam: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Estimates, City of Georgetown cakalations. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the projected 2,125 market -rate housing units will be affordable to households with incomes up to 80% of the median household income. This estimate of 152 units is a more conservative number than the previous eight years. However, given the current housing crisis and recent building permit trends, a more conservative approach is warranted. City of Georgetown Affordable Housing Deficit, 2012-2017 Affordable housing need is determined by identifying the unmet affordable housing demand (i.e., the deficit). The following chart illustrates the number and type of affordable housing units identified in Georgetown. The affordable housing supply created between 2010 and 2012 included: 3495 residential units that sold for $134,000 or less in the Georgetown MLS market 32 Average Annual Projected Net Production Rate Increase in Projected 2010 Housing 2012 Housing 2010 to 2012 Housing Units 2017 Housing Inventory Inventory (units) 2012 to 2017 Inventory City of Georgetown 1 19,2111 20,0461 4181 2,1251 22,171 Soam: 2008-2010 ACS 3 -Year Estimates, City of Georgetown cakalations. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the projected 2,125 market -rate housing units will be affordable to households with incomes up to 80% of the median household income. This estimate of 152 units is a more conservative number than the previous eight years. However, given the current housing crisis and recent building permit trends, a more conservative approach is warranted. City of Georgetown Affordable Housing Deficit, 2012-2017 Affordable housing need is determined by identifying the unmet affordable housing demand (i.e., the deficit). The following chart illustrates the number and type of affordable housing units identified in Georgetown. The affordable housing supply created between 2010 and 2012 included: 3495 residential units that sold for $134,000 or less in the Georgetown MLS market 32 Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County constructed 6 single family housing units in Georgetown The affordable housing supply in the "pipeline" or planned for development and occupancy between 2012 and 2017 was based on the following assumptions as well as information obtained from local affordable housing providers: The Texas Housing Foundation will develop 180 units of affordable rental housing at Gateway Northwest Apartment. Affordable Housing Need in the City of Georgetown, 2017 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMAND Owners Renters I Total Existing Demand for Affordable Housing (2010) Households living in physically -deficient units 89 350 439 Households that are cost burdened: Extremely low income households (up to 30% of MHI) 599 1316 1,915 Very low income households (30% up to 50% of MHI) 781 458 1,239 Low income households (50% up to 80% of MHI) 484 520 1,004 Total Existing Demand for Affordable Housing (2010) 1,953 2,6441 4,597 Projected Demand for Affordable Housing (2010-2017) New extremely low income households (up to 30% of MHI) 72 167 239 New very low income households (30% up to 50% of MHI) 81 81 161 New low income households (50% up to 80% of MHI) 190 190 380 Total Projected Demand for Affordable Housing (2010-2017) 342 438 780 TOTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMAND 2,295 3,082 5,377 AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY Supply of Affordable Housing Units Created (2010-2012) 2010-2012 Market sales units that sold for up to $134,000 (affordable to up 80% of MHI) 495 495 Habitat for Humanity 6 6 New construction rental units (affordable to households up to 80% of MHI) Supply of Affordable Housing Units Anticipated to be Created (2008-2012) 2012-2017 0 0 Market sales units for <$134,000 (affordable to households up to 80% of MHI) 225 225 Habitat for Humanity 0 0 New construction rental units (affordable to households up to 80% of MHI) 180 180 TOTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLYI 726 180 906 UNMET AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEFICIT TOTAL DEMAND MINUS TOTAL SUPPLYI i,sr.91 2,9021 4,471 Sources: 2008-2010 ACS 3-) ear Estimates, City of Georgetown calculations. The local housing market has not addressed the affordable sales housing need for households earning up to 80% of the area median income. Because the total affordable housing supply for owner units (726) is less than the total affordable housing demand for owner units (2,295) for the period 2010-2017. There is an already existing demand in Georgetown due to cost -burdened households. 33 Similarly, the localmarket has not adequately addressed the affordable rental housing need in Georgetown. The 180 affordable rental units estimated to be available will not provide sufficient housing opportunities for the 3,082 lower income households in need of housing. As a result, there exists a deficit of 12,902 affordable rental housing units in Georgetown. Public policy recommendations made in Part 11 are tailored to ameliorate this situation. As stated previously, the projections included in this section are based on the assumption that current public policies impacting the creation of affordable housing remain unchanged. If, however, new policies are approved that would provide incentives for the creation of new affordable housing units, then the total affordable housing supply could be increased, thereby decreasing unmet need. 34 4. Rationale and Policy Recommendations Rationale The availability of housing for people at all income levels should be treated as an important issue in Georgetown. For a city to be viable and sustainable in the long term, housing choices should be available to people that choose to live and work within the same city. ViabAty and Support of the Citizens The provision of workforce housing provides for the continued viability of Georgetown. A readily available pool of service employees are essential for the day-to-day operation of services required by residents of the city. Having teachers, firefighters, police and utility workers able to live within the community they serve allows the workforce to be more efficient and to be connected with the community they serve. In addition, in the event of an emergency or natural disaster, firefighters, police and utility workers will be onsite to provide immediate assistance. With less time spent on commuting to and from work, employees will have more free time, be less tired from travel and be more productive at work. Economic Stability The availability of housing at all price levels also provides for a direct economic benefit to the city. New retail, manufacturing and commercial businesses look at a variety of factors when exploring new locations for expansion. These prospective employers will be drawn to a community that already has a readily available localworkforce that is supported by affordable housing alternatives in the city. Availability of affordable housing, combined with Georgetown's many other positive economic development attributes, places the city in a better position to draw new businesses. Additionally, with a workforce that is able to live and work within the same location, individuals and families are able to participate more in community activities, shop locally and contribute to the tax base, which will enrich Georgetown. Diversity of Community Having a variety of housing choices promotes a diverse community with a variety of households of different sizes, cultures and age groups. Young adults and seniors often desire smaller housing with easy to manage maintenance, while families with children require more square footage and yards to play in. With the changing demographics, different cultures have cross -generational households requiring housing that meets the size and structure. A diversity of households and family structures provides the city with a mix of residents that can provide a variety of skills and experiences to educate and help each other. Social Responsibility It is important to offer reasonable choices to residents as their circumstances change. As heads of households may find themselves laid -off or temporarily jobless, affordable housing for economically disadvantaged and temporarily disadvantaged individuals and families become important to allow current residents to stay in the community in which they are already established. Availability of handicapped accessible homes as well as housing available to fixed income households is also an issue, especially in an aging community such as Georgetown. By addressing the current housing deficits and increasing the availability of housing options for various income levels, through the following recommendations, Georgetown will continue to 35 foster a community that adequately supports its existing residents, attracts new economic growth and provides an environment in which residents can thrive. 36 Recommendations These recommendations offer a series of procedures that, when undertaken in whole or in part, offer the potential to reduce the affordable housing deficit in the City of Georgetown. These recommendations are ranked in order of their priority with a time frame for considering implementation. High Priority (One to five years) Develop a program through which workforce housing developers can receive incentives to provide new units. Waiving development fees and subsidizing impact fees is the primary method the City has at its disposal to subsidize affordable housing. These costs represent a significant portion of the development budget for an affordable housing initiative and through this program; the City can offer a sliding scale of incentives to encourage affordable development. This development will be dependent upon meeting quantifiable scoring criteria, which can be established within the program. Primary criteria to be considered and scored: Amount of affordable housing included in the project: City will establish a percentage requirement for the amount of workforce housing to be included in a particular project in order to be considered for any city subsidy in the form of development and impact fee credits. Proximity to employment centers: The goal of workforce housing is to allow low to middle-income employees the opportunity to live within the community in which they work, while expanding the available workforce for current and future employers. Infrastructure availability: Developers applying for the program will demonstrate that they are efficiently locating the development to utilize the existing infrastructure such as roads, electric, water and waste water lines. Access to the road and pedestrian transportation network: While land located further from the city center is often cheaper for developers, this will usually put a transportation burden upon the future residents, effectively shifting any savings on housing to increased transportation costs. Sites to be considered through the program must show the distances and road network available to public services, retail centers and employment centers. Relationship to the surrounding property /Appearance: Projects, whether single or multifamily, should complement and be complemented by the types of development adjacent to the site. Single-family residential units should not be out of scale and style with existing single-family developments. Multifamily projects should not pose an actual detriment to surrounding business or residences. Individual workforce housing units included as a component of single or multi -family projects should be architecturally indistinguishable from the market rate units within the same project. For any development, it is also important to consider the demographic of future residents, the proximity of schools, jobs, retail and civic services. A basic return on investment analysis: The developer will be required to provide the Board with a future impact analysis of the project showing what financial returns the City can expect to see through increased tax and utility revenues. Combined with the overall 37 positive impact an increased population will have on the surrounding business community, this will help offset any upfront subsidies the city may provide. Incentives: Waiver of development fees: Depending on the score of the project, the developer could receive a waiver of up to 100 percent of Planning and Inspection Fees. Subsidized impact fees: Impact fees include water, wastewater and electric fees that are collected to offset the cost incurred by the public infrastructure system. The amount of subsidy a developer can receive would be set on a graduated scale with the maximum amount of 75 percent of total fees. Increased land development densities: The City's Unified Development Code has several lot development requirements that limit the amount of units a developer can put per acre. Impervious cover limits, setback requirements, lot width minimums and height limits can all be varied in such a way that developers can better utilize the land and develop more units. Program Management: Developers wishing to receive incentives shall present a complete plan to the Housing Advisory Board, which will be evaluated based on the criteria of the program. The Board will then make a recommendation to City Council for consideration. Council may seek evaluation and impact of project by city staff prior to making any final decision. Each case will be reviewed individually and funding for the program will be dependant upon budgetary restraints for that year. Developers considering applying to the program will be able to get a packet of program requirements with attached sample documents to allow for uniformity of applications and ensure the ease of applying. The Housing Coordinator will be available to meet with any developer wishing to take advantage of the program and will present completed applications to the Housing Advisory Board and City Council with a report showing how the project meets program requirements. As the project goes through the rest of the City development processes, the Housing Coordinator will serve as the case manager. 2. Determine suitable multifamilyzoning locations with suBrcient services andland use compatibility for an appropriate mix of housing types within the city. The City of Georgetown is estimated to run a deficit of 2,902 affordable rental units by the year 2017. As the housing market demand is constantly shifting, it is important for the city to be in a position to help create a new supply of housing to meet the needs of its residents. In the current economic climate, the need for rental housing has increased, while the supply and demand for single-family homeownership has leveled off or decreased. With this shift, the housing market has an increasing demand for multifamily development. A quick glance at the City's Zoning Map indicates a number of sites that have been zoned for multifamily, however many of these are speculative in nature and will not have the necessary infrastructure for 5 years or more. If the City is proactively planning for zoning and determining areas for multifamily development, new developments will be able to find appropriate multifamily sites. It can also avoid situations where a developer encounters local resistance that may drive them from the city. W] There are provisions for medium and high-density residential units as components of mixed-use developments that are adequately accounted for in the future land use map. It should be recognized however that it is difficult for a developer of workforce housing to incorporate commercial spaces in their developments due to the structure of financing methods used to facilitate affordable residential development. It is impractical to think that providing for medium and high-density residential development in mixed used zoning classifications alone will adequately address the shortage ofworkforce housing. The current multifamily deficit of 2,902 units as identified in this plan would require approximately 120 to 160 acres of land. To address this deficit, the first step is to have the planning staff review the 2030 Land Use Plan for any possible changes to the high-density land use category. The Board willreview these possible alternatives and then forward any change to City Council during the annual review of the Comprehensive Plan in the Spring. This will actively plan for future high-density development sites. Second, staff will review possible tracts within the city limits conducive for rezoning as Multifamily to present to the Housing Advisory Board for consideration. In the analysis, the following criteria should be examined: • Consider sites close to major employment centers. • Consider sites close to planned public transportation hubs. • Consider sites near areas that may be less suitable for higher income housing. • Consider sites close to existing high-density developments. • Consider existing sites that are not conducive to higher income housing and as a result are undeveloped. Once a plan for potential rezoning has been made, the item will be forwarded to City Council for review and direction. Any potential City or developer initiated rezoning of tracts would still have to go through the public hearing process as mandated by state law. Medium High Priority (Five to seven years) 3. Continue the Housing Diversity densitvincentives for newresidential construction. The City currently provides a density bonus to development projects that include an affordable housing component. To date, no developers have taken advantage of this incentive. Overtime, as developers become more familiar with this provision in the City's zoning code and as development sites become scarce, it is likely that developers will become motivated to take advantage of this incentive. The City may wish to reevaluate the incentive or provide public infrastructure support for projects that involve creating affordable housing. The City may also wish to conduct a developer workshop to expand awareness and to obtain feedback on how the housing diversity component of the City's zoning code can be modified to expand the supply of affordable housing. 4. Prioritize the use ofHUD CDBGfunds for affordable housing. As of the 2010 Census, the City's population was 47,400. At the population mark of 50,000, the City of Georgetown will become eligible for an annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement grant directly from HUD. By City estimates, this will not happen until 2014. While we still have time to plan for this, it is important to establish priorities for 39 the use of CDBG funds as a matter of public policy before entitlement s tatus is conferred on the City. Early prioritization will minimize the confusion and competition to secure CDBG funds for "pet" projects that inevitably occurs whenever grant money becomes available in a community. Rather than using this newfound source of revenue for activities that ease pressure on the City's general fund, the community should prioritize the use of CDBG funds for affordable housing. CDBG funds can be used to acquire property, rehabilitate affordable housing, provide infrastructure improvements in support of affordable housing and provide human services to the residents or prospective residents of affordable housing. In certain circumstances, CDBG funds can be used to finance the construction of new affordable housing, but only when the funds are funneled through a community based nonprofit development corporation. Once the City's CDBG program is operating smoothly, the City may want to work towards the designation of a neighborhood revitalization strategy area (NRSA) which is a provision in the CDBG regulations that makes it easier to utilize CDBG funds for mixed income housing initiatives. 5. Strengthen home buyer counseling and support services. Homebuyer counseling is aimed at credit repair and building basic home maintenance and budgeting skills. As such, it is an essential element of the affordable homeownership equation. While there are certain counseling services already available in Georgetown, these types of services need to be expanded and promoted. The City should encourage regional providers of counseling services to create or expand their presence in Georgetown. Commercial lending institutions and institutions of higher learning also have a vested interest in supporting or providing homebuyer counseling services. When extending public funds for affordable homeownership activities, the City should require each prospective homebuyer to successfully complete a certified homeownership counseling program as a condition of receiving financial assistance. Medium Priority (Seven to ten years) 6. Seek out County CDBG funds and State HOMEfunds is support of affordable housing initiatives; subcontract with local nonprofits toimplementprojects. One of the important roles of the City in terms of expanding the supply of affordable housing is to use its legal powers to apply for state and federal funds. Once funding approval has been obtained, the City would act as a pass-through of funds to one or more local development organizations. These organizations would then assume responsibility for implementation of the project. Williamson County is a CDBG entitlement urban county entity and the City of Georgetown may submit project requests to the county's community development department. Requests for federal HOME funds must be submitted to the state. The City and its affordable housing partners should identify and prioritize a series of projects and activities that would qualify for CDBG and/or HOME funding. Every year, the City should submit at least one funding request under each program for priority projects. The City currently administers a homeowner housing rehabilitation program funded by general fund revenues. The City's guidelines for this program closely follow federal requirements, including an income targeting provision that limits access to financial assistance for households with incomes below 80% of the area median household income. 40 This housing rehabilitation program can be administered more efficiently by a local nonprofit organization or the Georgetown Housing Authority. The City may wish to enter into a cooperation agreement with a local housing organization to administer this program. 7. Identify revitalization areas for concentratedinvestment. Given the limited supply of resources for affordable housing, the City should select certain areas of the community for intensive and comprehensive revitalization rather than pursuing a "shotgun" approach to the development of affordable housing. Thus, it is important to ask city planners to select several target areas for intensive revitalization. Each target area might consist of three or four blocks. Typically, these areas will require the removal or substantial rehabilitation of blighted properties, new lighting, sidewalks, streets, utility infrastructure, landscaping and infill housing. At least some of the infill housing should be affordable to low and moderate income households. This revitalization will benefit Georgetown as it improves the tax base and adds to the labor force. 41