Housing Affordability

 

THE CRISIS OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

 

“We must be bold and intentional in our efforts to create the change necessary to sustain our core values of diversity and inclusion.  How can we implement change to provide for more affordable options and to maintain the naturally occurring affordable housing units that are tucked in our community throughout the city? We need a collective effort of elected officials, city staff, development partners, nonprofits and the community to create the change." 

Mayor Patti Garrett

 

The City of Decatur is committed to ensuring that quality housing is available and attainable for households of all incomes. The City has created a number of webpages that provide information on housing affordability initiatives in Decatur, including what housing affordability means. Decatur strives to provide housing to fill a variety of needs for a diversity of people.

 

 

DECATUR HOUSING STORYMAP 

 

Decatur’s housing storymap looks at Decatur’s history of housing policies, the outcomes of the Affordable Housing Task Force, and plans to provide more inclusive housing in our city. The video speaks of Decatur’s need to recognize that current policies are based on decades-old exclusionary zoning practices and how the City seeks to address outdated policies with new zoning initiatives recommended in the Affordable Housing Task Force Report.

 

CURRENT MISSING MIDDLE INFORMATION:

 

ONE PAGE MISSING MIDDLE SUMMARY 

Click here to read the one page missing middle summary pdf.

 

MISSING MIDDLE ZONING PROPOSALS

1) Allow building types that formerly existed to be created again: new or converted duplex (2 unit) and “walk up flat” (3-4 unit) dwellings allowed by “Limited Use” in Residential zones R-85, R-60, R-50, and RS-17.
2) Required to conform to UDO size, height, FAR and lot coverage of a single-family home to ensure fit in the neighborhood.
3) 50% of parking requirement satisfied on-street as part of the limited review process. Staff has increased the length of the parking space requirement from the originally recommended 15’ to 20’.
4) Data on missing middle housing permits and development will be added to the City’s Annual Metrics: staff will report to the Decatur City Commission annually on the number of permits, units created, percent rental, sale prices, on-street parking utilization, % short term rental, number of school age children and impact on schools.
5) Staff has added an affordability requirement: the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing ordinance will require a quadplex + ADU (5 units) comply with affordability requirements of the ordinance.
6) Staff is developing a Short-Term Rental policy.
7) In order for the city staff to implement the permit process and assess impact for these new building types, the number of permits allowed for duplex and walk up flats will be limited for the first 18 months following the effective date of June 30, 2023, to 3 permits per K-2 school district for a total of 15 permits citywide during this time period. This will apply to new construction and home subdivisions. This will gradually phase in development of these housing types.

JANUARY 17TH COMMISSION MEETING LINK AND MATERIALS

Watch the January 17th City Commission Work Session and Meeting Here

Missing Middle Final Presentation | Slides

Short Term Rental Presentation Slides (policy currently in development)

 

WATCH THE AUGUST 17, 2022 MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FORUM ONLINE

The City of Decatur hosted a virtual forum on August 17th to answer questions that have arisen regarding the missing middle zoning policies. Watch the video here, or read the forum recap here. 

_{Disclaimer: The robust panelist discussion of the Missing Middle Housing Forum utilizes the experiences of each panelist to facilitate the discussion for educational purposes and may also include personal opinions and viewpoints of the panelist participants. However, the personal opinions and viewpoints held by the participants do not necessarily reflect those of the City of Decatur, the Decatur City Commission, or the City Schools of Decatur.}

WATCH THE CITY COMMISSION MISSING MIDDLE WORK SESSION HERE | VIEW THE STAFF PRESENTATION PDF FLIDES FROM THE 12/5 WORK SESSION HERE | VIEW THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION SLIDES HERE

The City of Decatur hosted a Commission Work Session on December 5th to answer questions that have arisen during the public hearing process. City Staff was joined by Mike Alexander of the Atlanta Regional Commission and Dan Immergluck, Professor of Urban Studies at Georgia State University, for this session.

STAY UP TO DATE ON CURRENT COMMUNITY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING MISSING MIDDLE ZONING POLICY 

Click here to read the current list of questions that have come in from the community and the answers in response. 

ATTEND PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS / VIEW PAST MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS

Dates for the Planning Commission Meeting and City Commission Meeting and presentation of the ordinances will be posted here. 

Planning Commission Webpage: https://www.decaturga.com/bc-pc 

October 11, 2022 Planning Commission 7PM: VIEW THE RECORDING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HERE

City Commission Webpage: https://www.decaturga.com/citycommission/page/city-commission-agendasminutes 

October 17, 2022 City Commission 7:30PM : VIEW THE RECORDING OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING HERE |  VIEW THE PDF SLIDES FROM 10/17 PRESENTATION HERE

December 5, 2022 City Commission Work Session VIEW THE RECORDING OF THE CITY COMMISSION MISSING MIDDLE WORK SESSION HERE | VIEW THE STAFF PRESENTATION PDF FLIDES FROM THE 12/5 WORK SESSION HERE | VIEW THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION SLIDES HERE

January 17, 2023 City Commission 7:30PM

February 6, 2023 City Commission 7:30PM