Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY OFFICE

DATE: October 4, 2005 

Ulster County Housing Consortium Invites the Public to a

Legislative Presentation of

“Priority Strategies to Support Housing Development in Ulster County”

The Ulster County Housing Consortium has completed a Housing Strategies Report that explores the extent of the housing challenges facing individuals and families and the priority strategies that are needed at all levels of government to ensure access to housing within the communities of Ulster County.

The Report will be presented to the Ulster County Legislature on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at 6:00pm in the Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair Street, Kingston.

The Housing Strategies Report is a plan of action that provides a means to a healthy housing mix within Ulster County. It establishes the context of the housing need, presents an overview of the regulatory and programmatic opportunities and barriers, explores the roles of housing providers and regulators, assesses community acceptance issues, and provides a “toolbox” approach for all stakeholders to respond to the challenges.

Findings in the report include:

• housing prices have doubled in the last 6 years whereas household income has increased less than 25%
• median housing prices now require an income of approximately $65,000 to be affordable
• rental costs for a 2 bedroom unit requires an hourly wage of nearly $15.00 to be affordable
• public education and outreach on the importance of housing in community and economic development efforts is Job 1 to improve community acceptance of housing at all price ranges
• County-wide housing friendly policies are needed - linked to comprehensive plans, regulatory tools, and incentives from all sources.

The report concludes that:

• problem is not “self-correcting”
• market alone will not be sufficient to deal with the problem
• requires a coordinated policy response
• NIMBY is still pervasive in the county
• economic future and the future of livable communities requires action

In addition to a discussion of the current programs and polices that aid affordability, The Report contains priority recommendations covering four major areas:

• implement a public education campaign to address Not-In-My-Back-Yard (NIMBY) issues
• implement Countywide “Housing Friendly” Zoning Policies
• explore the establishment of a Community-Based Housing Trust Fund to support affordably-priced housing development and the preservation of open space
• develop and integrate a comprehensive set of County-Municipal housing targets consistent with the economic development and “Smart Growth” needs of the County and individual municipalities

The Ulster County Housing Consortium coordinated the preparation of the Report. Project management was the responsibility of the Ulster County Planning Board. Funding was provided by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Small Cities (GOSC) and the Ulster County Planning Board. Any questions or comments regarding this release should contact the Ulster County Planning Board at (845) 340-3339.