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<br />Zoning Board of Adjustn <br />Minutes of January 27, 200u <br />Page 4 of 11 <br /> <br />The structure is structurally sound. <br />Lakeside has closed on the property and they are the current owners. <br />Two environmental reviews were performed on the property. <br />Adding parking spaces, as requested, will be difficult to do. <br />Setback requirements can't be met. <br />Prospective tenants must pass a stringent application process. <br />Income from property goes back into the project. <br />Owners are willing to establish an advisory committee with the <br />neighborhood. <br /> <br />Mr. Garza answered questions from the Board. The following was noted: <br /> <br />Lakeside is a nonprofit organization. <br />Funding for the project is a grant from the HOME Program. <br />Grant is in the amount of $1,491,842. <br />$800,000 is budgeted for construction. <br />Lakeside worked closely with the City and was never led to believe <br />there were obstacles that could not be overcome. <br />Lakeside performed a neighborhood survey and obtained 31 <br />signatures from people in favor of the project <br /> <br />Tres Davis, with the State of Texas, sworn in, explained the process for <br />distribution of funds. Funding for the project is a loan, not a grant, and <br />income from rental will go to repay the loan, which is fmanced for 30 years. <br />If cash flow exceeds operating costs, then the remaining funds are returned <br />to the nonprofit organization. Nonprofit organizations are exempt by State <br />Law from paying property taxes. The State was satisfied with the letter <br />written by the City that indicated this multi-family project was properly <br />zoned and there shouldn't be any problems obtaining a building permit. <br /> <br />Executive Director for Lakeside, Paul Case, was sworn in by Chairperson <br />Grant. Chairperson Grant asked Mr. Case how he came to know that La <br />Porte was in need of affordable housing. Mr. Case answered that he really <br />didn't know until he came to La Porte and started talking with different <br />people and getting signatures on a petition. <br /> <br />Mr. Garza introduced Chris Carwile, from Deer Park, Texas. Mr. Carwile is <br />currently in training to be the manager of the project. Mr. Carwile was <br />recently released from the Marines, where he was a Sargent. He also holds a <br />black belt in Karate. <br /> <br />Bruce Spitz engle, President of Grant Works, sworn in, addressed the Board. <br />He explained that Grant Works assists nonprofit organizations with <br />obtaining and administering grant projects. <br /> <br />Ron Kent, Architect, sworn in, stated that he was hired to provide <br />architectural services for the project Mr. Kent answered questions from the <br />Board. The following was noted: <br />