By ANN McQUEEN
If the Walton County Board of Commissioners accepts a plan put together by Dewey Wilson, chief executive officer for Regional Utilities, and a team of volunteers, workforce housing could be a reality in Walton County in just a few years.
Wilson presented a plan to the Walton County Board of Commissioners that could create a workforce housing community in central Walton County north of Highway 20 near JW Hollington Rd. on a 400-acre section of a parcel of land that the utility company purchased in 2004. Wilson delivered his plan to the BCC at a special workshop held Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the South Walton Annex. The BCC will consider Wilson's plan at the Sept. 12 general meeting, to be held at the South Walton Annex at 4 p.m.
Wilson found that the 400-acre parcel is not necessary to the operations of the water and sewer utility. Knowing the challenges his staff faces when searching for affordable homes close to work to buy or rent, Wilson thought the parcel could be developed into a community that his employees could live in. He began a three-year process of bringing together teams of volunteers to create a feasible plan for the development of such a place, complete with roads, schools, and water and sewer service - all at no cost to the taxpayers.
"People move to Walton County because they know there are good jobs and plenty of opportunity here. Then they learn they can't afford to buy or rent a home close to work. So they look elsewhere to establish home, sometimes as far away as Alabama. We're losing too many good people because they can't afford to live and work here," said Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen, District 2, as he introduced Wilson. "This issue is critical, and I'm proud to be here today."
Lloyd Blue, a local developer and affordable housing advocate, presented preliminary site plans that his team contributed to Wilson's vision. The site plans include several parks and lakes, some commercial areas, a 40-acre school site with playgrounds and fields, and other community amenities as well as 619 initial homesites. Blue previously agreed to donate funds to the Walton County School District to purchase 20 of the 40 acres set aside for the school. He presented a check to superintendent Carlene Anderson that is exchangeable for a deed to the site, once details are worked out and the plan is officially adopted. Mark Mustian, an attorney with the Tallahassee firm Nabors Giblin & Nickerson, delivered a short presentation on the role an affordable housing authority would play in the execution of Wilson's plan. The housing authority, like Regional Utilities, is essentially a nonprofit corporation sponsored by the county. Regional Utilities will surplus the 400-acre site to the county, which will in turn convey it to the housing authority. In order to pay for the property, the housing authority will issue bonds. This allows the county to control the asset without incurring the liability, Mustian explained. Since the authority is a nonprofit corporation, the plan itself has no taxable value. This also helps keep home prices in the community down.
Joseph Bear, vice president, public finance group with Crews and Associates, explained that the authority would repay the debt through tax increment financing. Such financing, he said, eliminates as much interest as possible. "We're standing by and waiting to underwrite this project," he said. "We're very excited to be a part of it."
Jeff Sharkey, a grant consultant, presented information about a "Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program," or CWHIP, that was established this year by the state legislature (HB1363). "We are absolutely right on target for up to $5 million for this project," Sharkey said. Funds under this program will be awarded through a "Request for Proposal," or RFP process to public-private entities. Criteria for obtaining CWHIP funding include, but are not limited to, half of the units be set aside for "essential services personnel." These occupations can be defined by a local SHIP coordinator and often include teachers, police officers, fire fighters, county employees, healthcare workers, and others. Eighty percent of the units built with CWHIP funds should be available to households earning incomes up to 140 percent of the area median income.
RFPs will be out at the beginning of October. The process closes in December, and funding will be offered in January 2007.?Blue set forth a 13-point action list that urges the county to take the steps necessary to make the plan a reality. A formal request will be made at the Sept. 12 BCC meeting.
"This legislation (HB1363) fits perfectly with our county," said state Sen. Durrell Peaden, who attended the presentation. "It's a shame for us to have the growth we have here and have people live in Alabama," he added. Sen. Peaden helped facilitate state approval for the large-scale amendments to the Walton County Land Development Code that were necessary for the project.
Wilson's plan includes a stipulation that if the project fails to materialize, the land will revert to ownership by Regional Utilities. The 40-acre school site, however, will remain with the school district.
"This is the closest we've come to finding a solution to affordable housing," said Commissioner Pridgen. "I talk to people everyday about not being able to find affordable homes. I think this is a very good thing. Let's move forward with this, and as quickly as possible."
If the Walton County Board of Commissioners accepts a plan put together by Dewey Wilson, chief executive officer for Regional Utilities, and a team of volunteers, workforce housing could be a reality in Walton County in just a few years.
Wilson presented a plan to the Walton County Board of Commissioners that could create a workforce housing community in central Walton County north of Highway 20 near JW Hollington Rd. on a 400-acre section of a parcel of land that the utility company purchased in 2004. Wilson delivered his plan to the BCC at a special workshop held Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the South Walton Annex. The BCC will consider Wilson's plan at the Sept. 12 general meeting, to be held at the South Walton Annex at 4 p.m.
Wilson found that the 400-acre parcel is not necessary to the operations of the water and sewer utility. Knowing the challenges his staff faces when searching for affordable homes close to work to buy or rent, Wilson thought the parcel could be developed into a community that his employees could live in. He began a three-year process of bringing together teams of volunteers to create a feasible plan for the development of such a place, complete with roads, schools, and water and sewer service - all at no cost to the taxpayers.
"People move to Walton County because they know there are good jobs and plenty of opportunity here. Then they learn they can't afford to buy or rent a home close to work. So they look elsewhere to establish home, sometimes as far away as Alabama. We're losing too many good people because they can't afford to live and work here," said Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen, District 2, as he introduced Wilson. "This issue is critical, and I'm proud to be here today."
Lloyd Blue, a local developer and affordable housing advocate, presented preliminary site plans that his team contributed to Wilson's vision. The site plans include several parks and lakes, some commercial areas, a 40-acre school site with playgrounds and fields, and other community amenities as well as 619 initial homesites. Blue previously agreed to donate funds to the Walton County School District to purchase 20 of the 40 acres set aside for the school. He presented a check to superintendent Carlene Anderson that is exchangeable for a deed to the site, once details are worked out and the plan is officially adopted. Mark Mustian, an attorney with the Tallahassee firm Nabors Giblin & Nickerson, delivered a short presentation on the role an affordable housing authority would play in the execution of Wilson's plan. The housing authority, like Regional Utilities, is essentially a nonprofit corporation sponsored by the county. Regional Utilities will surplus the 400-acre site to the county, which will in turn convey it to the housing authority. In order to pay for the property, the housing authority will issue bonds. This allows the county to control the asset without incurring the liability, Mustian explained. Since the authority is a nonprofit corporation, the plan itself has no taxable value. This also helps keep home prices in the community down.
Joseph Bear, vice president, public finance group with Crews and Associates, explained that the authority would repay the debt through tax increment financing. Such financing, he said, eliminates as much interest as possible. "We're standing by and waiting to underwrite this project," he said. "We're very excited to be a part of it."
Jeff Sharkey, a grant consultant, presented information about a "Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program," or CWHIP, that was established this year by the state legislature (HB1363). "We are absolutely right on target for up to $5 million for this project," Sharkey said. Funds under this program will be awarded through a "Request for Proposal," or RFP process to public-private entities. Criteria for obtaining CWHIP funding include, but are not limited to, half of the units be set aside for "essential services personnel." These occupations can be defined by a local SHIP coordinator and often include teachers, police officers, fire fighters, county employees, healthcare workers, and others. Eighty percent of the units built with CWHIP funds should be available to households earning incomes up to 140 percent of the area median income.
RFPs will be out at the beginning of October. The process closes in December, and funding will be offered in January 2007.?Blue set forth a 13-point action list that urges the county to take the steps necessary to make the plan a reality. A formal request will be made at the Sept. 12 BCC meeting.
"This legislation (HB1363) fits perfectly with our county," said state Sen. Durrell Peaden, who attended the presentation. "It's a shame for us to have the growth we have here and have people live in Alabama," he added. Sen. Peaden helped facilitate state approval for the large-scale amendments to the Walton County Land Development Code that were necessary for the project.
Wilson's plan includes a stipulation that if the project fails to materialize, the land will revert to ownership by Regional Utilities. The 40-acre school site, however, will remain with the school district.
"This is the closest we've come to finding a solution to affordable housing," said Commissioner Pridgen. "I talk to people everyday about not being able to find affordable homes. I think this is a very good thing. Let's move forward with this, and as quickly as possible."