05-24-12 Special Called Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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8)7)Continue the program of identifying and demolishing substandard structures; coordinate demolition with a proactive and effective program to provide incentives for home building on empty lots. This may include marketing these properties on the City’s website, streamlining the permit approval process, and reduced permitting fees. 9)8)Strengthen the ability for local organizations, e.g., Sheltering Arms Senior Services, Inc., to support weatherization and energy efficiency improvements in existing neighborhoods. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is sponsored by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and helps low-income persons, particularly the elderly and persons with special needs, control their home energy costs. Local organizations need additional support so that more weatherization improvement options are made available. The City may also actively support these local organizations by partnering with them on grant applications or hosting weatherization open houses or organizing energy-efficiency audits. 10)9)Continue to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds, HOME Grant funds, or other grant or loan programs to create or rehabilitate affordable housing for low-income households. 11)10)Continue to coordinate with and help to promote housing assistance programs of the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation and the Harris County Community Development Agency. GOAL 5: Ensure affordable and sufficient housing options in the future. The availability and affordability of different housing options leads to a higher quality of life. In general, as more types and affordable housing options are supplied, a greater number of residents will be able to live and work in La Porte. Therefore, anticipating and meeting future housing demand is essential for the City’s economic development success, and planning will enable the community to respond effectively to the needs of a variety of market segments, from young singles and newly married couples to large families, empty nesters, seniors, and retirees looking to downsize. The City currently has a narrow range of owner-occupied neighborhoods and housing types, with the current mix being predominantly single-family detached residential dwellings. Indeed, as displayed in the Demographic Snapshot in Chapter 1, La Porte has the highest percentage of one-unit structures (84 percent), which is higher than all the comparison cities, the county, and the state. This leaves little room for choice among housing types. In the future, aging residents may desire to have more housing options available, including maintenance free condominiums and additional assisted living and continuing care facilities. In addition, units marketable to households that are “downsizing” should be permitted and encouraged in appropriate locations. Examples of these varied units are depicted in the inset, which may include duplexes, patio homes, townhomes, and multiplexes. This does not mean that there is not a market for single-family 2.13 LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT 2.13 Adopted July 20, 2009