Department of Community Development
Reference: Affordable Housing Coordinator Updates
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of the City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Shawn Weiman, Affordable Housing Coordinator
Date Prepared: January 14, 2025
PURPOSE
1) Provide an update on affordable housing initiatives, including an overview of housing affordability, increasing housing supply, adding affordable housing units, and other in-process and future initiatives.
2) Introduce a proposed revision to the Brighton Municipal Code (B.M.C.) definition of affordable housing and a proposed revision to the Attainable Housing Matrix (AHM) of fee reductions for affordable housing.
BACKGROUND
1) The cost of housing, both new construction and existing stock, has outpaced household income, creating a housing affordability gap. Housing affordability in Brighton is stressed at and below 60% Area Median Income (AMI) for renters. One half of below-median income renters are "cost burdened," spending more than 30% of income on housing.
The Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) approved by the City Council on October 24, 2023, identifies two main goals to alleviate these conditions: (1) increase housing supply at all price points, and (2) encourage and facilitate the supply of affordable housing units mainly at and below 60% AMI.
Strategies to achieve those goals were identified in the HNA and were further developed after conversations with planning staff, Brighton Housing Authority staff, and affordable housing developers. The initial strategies are to ease the process and requirements for adding accessory dwelling units, welcome lower-cost housing types, redefine "affordable housing," and revise the guidelines for affordable housing fee reductions.
Other in-process and future affordable housing initiatives include:
* Establish an affordable housing development review process (required by Prop. 123),
* Explore City-owned and infill lots for aff...
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