Why Housing for All matters in Orange County

The Housing for All Task Force brought to the Board of County Commissioners a plan to increase the supply of affordable housing over 10 years. We accepted the recommendations overwhelmingly, and I am grateful that in District 2 we are seeing the fruit of our labors.”

Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore

In late June, Orange County Commissioner District 2 Christine Moore joined fellow county officials and residents to cut the ribbon unveiling the latest senior citizen affordable housing community called Hawthorne Park in Pine Hills. Hawthorne Park joins a growing list of affordable housing developments in the county.

The Preserve at Emerald Villas, another senior complex in Pine Hills, was welcomed in November 2020. In 2019, Universal Orlando announced plans to set aside 20 acres of its land to build 1,000 affordable housing units. A 500-unit senior and general affordable project was approved on Plymouth-Sorrento Road near the entrance to the SR 429 and soon coming Floridian Town Center. And, in Apopka, back in 2017, the county approved the development of Wellington Park on Thompson Road, and Brixton Landing on 13^th Street.

Commissioner Moore said, “The Housing for All Task Force brought to the Board of County Commissioners a plan to increase the supply of affordable housing over 10 years. We accepted the recommendations overwhelmingly, and I am grateful that in District 2 we are seeing the fruit of our labors. However, more work must be done. Too many of the new subdivisions are simply out-of-range for most families.

One of the areas addressed by Orange County’s plan, Housing for All, targets putting available land aside now for development of future affordable communities. Another key point is to make sure new affordable housing is located close to transportation options and jobs. By reducing driving and reliance on vehicles, less of a total household income is spent on transportation, leaving families with more income available for housing.

The commitment is to ensure 35 percent of the total number of units developed in Orange County up until 2029 are affordable or attainable. That totals 30,300, and some of the housing may come from already existing stock by making sure the units remain affordable. The county aims to incentivize developers for constructing workforce housing close to transportation centers and job hubs, as an example. This part of the plan uses what’s known as Access Indicators to determine how to incentivize. If land is located near transit, employment, grocery, and medical care, the Access Indicators rating would define the land as a good choice for affordable, attainable housing.

Duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and garden-style apartments are strongly encouraged as a type of construction to meet the need. These types of units are referred to as the missing middle. The county made it easier to add accessory dwelling units on large lots for family members.

Moore said, “Implementing the Housing for All recommendations, hiring more staff to expedite the permitting process, and creating more public/private partnerships are solutions.”

POL ADV Paid for & approved by Christine Moore, non-partisan, for Orange County Commission, #2.

www.christine4orange.com