CC MEETING: January 23, 2024
DATE: January 17, 2024
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Cory Heiple, Environmental Services Director
Marc Guy, Assistant City Manager
Title
Consider A Resolution Revising The Single-Family Rehabilitation Incentive Policy.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The proposed changes are intended to expedite the Single-Family Rehabilitation Incentive grant application and approval process. The proposal is to amend the policy to allow staff approval of driveway expansions of limited scope that are completed in conjunction with a NOTICE project. This significantly shortens the applicant’s waiting period from the date of application until approval from up to four weeks to less than one week and streamlines the City contractor’s workflow. This approach is aligned with previous amendments to reduce routine projects requiring Re-Development Committee approval, which include fence, driveway and lead walkway replacements.
Originally adopted in 2014, this program provides grants for single-family rehabilitation within Neighborhood Empowerment Zones. The program has been marketed throughout the qualifying zones with special outreach focused on NOTICE project areas. Since program inception, 218 rehabilitation grants have been approved, totaling $366,901 in public grants, resulting in $1,591,861 of private investment.
Key changes of the proposed revisions include:
• Delegating final Single-Family Rehabilitation Incentive grant approval for routine driveway expansions from the Re-Development Committee to City staff to expedite the project turnaround time, provided that the driveway expansions are:
o Straight, non-curved and less than 10 feet in expanded width; and
o Less than $3,000 in project cost;
• Expansions greater than 10’ or more than $3,000 will require Re-Development Committee approval.
The proposed amendments were presented to the City Council Re-Development Committee at the December 5, 2023, meeting and were unanimously approved for City Council consideration.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
The single-family rehabilitation grant incentives offer significant tools to prevent blight in Carrollton’s older neighborhoods. Revitalizing housing is a key component of a sustainable community.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends City Council approval of a resolution revising the Single-Family Rehabilitation Incentive program policy.