DeBary amends housing element to codify affordable-housing protections, proximity-to-transit rules and anti-gentrification policy

At a July 2 City of DeBary workshop planning staff described proposed revisions to the housing element of the DeBary 2045 comprehensive plan that are designed to align with recent Florida statute changes and to codify several housing-related practices the city already follows.

Staff said the housing element update contains 18 substantive changes and 11 administrative edits. Key substantive proposals include a policy to cooperate with the private sector, nonprofit partners and public agencies to preserve existing affordable housing (policy 6.104); a requirement to evaluate the need to diversify the housing supply (policy 6.105); and a policy to conduct analysis before increases in taxes, fees or fines to determine whether such increases would reduce the supply of affordable housing (policy 6.106).

The draft also would require that affordable housing be located no more than a half-mile from transit services, shopping and other community services, and would prohibit new multifamily affordable housing developments from being located within a half-mile of one another except inside the transit-oriented development district. Staff said several policies already reflect current practice and are being codified to comply with updates to Florida statute chapter 163. Other proposed policies direct regular monitoring of growth and housing supply, reviews of permitting and building-permit procedures, consideration of measures to preserve aging housing stock and exploration of policies to prevent gentrification.

Vice Mayor Butler asked when the new Florida requirements take effect; staff replied that some provisions are already in effect, others take effect Oct. 1, and a few take effect with the calendar year. Council member Stevenson observed that “gentrification doesn't always involve rebuilding,” a point staff acknowledged while describing draft policies to explore prevention strategies. Staff said the housing element revisions will be included in the city’s evaluation and appraisal report to the state and returned to council for further review; no ordinance or vote occurred at the workshop.