Housing Committee

Scope of Work:

The Housing Committee is the Committee charged with studying, investigating and making recommendations with respect to the residential development in the Town. This includes such matters as single-family density, multi-family opportunities, and ways to better provide for affordable housing and/or workforce housing. The Housing Committee is also encouraged to work with the Aging Committee on issues dealing with senior housing. The Housing Committee is to report to the Zoning Updates Committee with respect to any proposed changes to the Town of Austerlitz Zoning Code which relates to housing. If there are specific recommendations that do not impact the Town’s Zoning Code, the Committee may make such recommendations directly to the Town Board.

In furtherance of the above, the Housing Committee should refer to the Comprehensive Plan, Recommendations F-1 through F-10 except F-6, as a guide but is not limited to those recommendations. (The Town Board will be working on short term rentals, F-6, initially but may

seek to collaborate with the Housing Committee at a future time.) 

In addition, the Housing Committee may also work on the Comprehensive Plan Recommendations B-3c and G-1 (in coordination with the Zoning Updates Committee) and E-2 (in coordination with the Aging Committee).

Guidance Notes:

Housing is a broad topic and involves issues that may cross-over into the work of other Committees. Thus, the Housing Committee is encouraged to communicate and collaborate with other Committees as it deems appropriate and so long as it seeks guidance from the Zoning Updates Committee regarding issues that may impact zoning and the Town Board on any other issues. It should work with the Aging Committee on senior housing issues.

Reports:

The Housing Committee shall keep the Town Board regularly informed of its progress and should provide written or in-person reports to the Town Board at least once every month.