Feb. 2, 2010: County releases Implementation Plan for housing settlement

“The implementation plan does not specifically detail where the housing will be built – just the process on how decisions will be made. As required by the settlement, the plan also includes tools – such as new policies and marketing initiatives – to assist the county in promoting fair and affordable housing opportunities within Westchester.”  View the press release in its entirety in “Read more.”

Westchester County press release of Feb. 2, 2010

COUNTY RELEASES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR HOUSING SETTLEMENT

Documents outlining the process are posted on county Web site

    Westchester County has submitted its implementation plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to the federal monitor overseeing the county’s compliance with last year’s settlement of the fair and affordable housing lawsuit.

    The plan details the framework for complying with the settlement entered into by former County Executive Andrew Spano and approved by a majority of the Board of Legislators. The settlement requires the county to build 750 units of new housing in 31 communities and to undertake marketing that ensures outreach to racially and ethnically diverse households.

    The implementation plan does not specifically detail where the housing will be built – just the process on how decisions will be made. As required by the settlement, the plan also includes tools – such as new policies and marketing initiatives – to assist the county in promoting fair and affordable housing opportunities within Westchester.

    The document and its many attachments can be found on the county’s Web site at: www.westchestergov.com/housingsettlement .

    In submitting the plan to HUD and the federal monitor, County Executive Robert P. Astorino said: “This settlement grew out of actions by the Spano Administration and the Board of Legislators last year. It is now the obligation of my administration to comply with this court order, and we will take appropriate steps to do so. At the same time, I want to assure all of our communities that we will do everything possible to address their concerns.” 

    Included in the implementation plan are the following:

o Policy statements adopted by the county committing it to the elimination of discrimination in housing and the promotion of fair housing principles.

o Model zoning ordinance provisions that local governments are being asked to consider. As part of that, the municipalities would agree to adopt policies promoting fair and affordable housing in exchange for future county funds for programs like Legacy/Open Space and Community Development Block Grants.

o Mechanisms to ensure that comprehensive affirmative marketing procedures are in place when housing units become available so that people who are interested in the housing, including racially and ethnically diverse households, have notice and an opportunity to apply.

o Public outreach and advertising plans to better inform the community of fair and affordable housing opportunities throughout the county.

    Under terms of the agreement entered into by the Spano administration with HUD, the county paid the federal government $30 million, of which the government returned $21.6 million to the county’s HUD account to be used to build 750 units of fair and affordable housing in the communities identified in the settlement.

    In addition to these funds, the county agreed to add $30 million to its capital budget to build this fair and affordable housing over the next seven years.

    To oversee the settlement, HUD appointed a federal monitor.  The next step is for the monitor, in consultation with HUD, to review the county’s implementation plan. Based on that review, the monitor will issue a report on the adequacy of the plan.