09-15-11 Planning and Zoning - Laserfiche WebLink

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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 sothat more weetherbotion improvement options are made available. The City may also actively support these local organizations by partnering with them on grant applications or hosting vveatherizatlon open houses or organizing energyeM1dencymudits. 10)Continun to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds, HOME Grant funds, nrother grant or loan programs to create or rehabilitate affordable housing for low-income households. 11)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 ufresidents 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 ofmarket segments, from young singles and newly married couples 1ularge families, empty nesters, seniors, and retirees looking todowmsize. The City currently has anarrow range ofowner-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 |b1|e 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, tuwnhomes, and multiplexes. This does not mean that there is not a market for single-family homes/ rather, it means that future development should incorporate more housing diversity snthat existing and future residents will have sufficient options, from large lot single-family dwellings, to residential above retail lofts, live/work units, and attached living. Lack ufaffordability baconcern. When there balack ofaffordable housing options available, it increases individual and/or family distress and is considered to have negative effects on a community's overall health. The City recognizes the need to ensure that all of La Purte's residents enjoy A (_ ( )k{iMUN|RylHUNF0K[6I'dR]E.TFXA� 2fflUUP1)A'1 E