Consider and Adopt Resolutions of Support for 2017 Housing Tax Credit Applications, Approve Commitment of Development Funding and Adopt Resolution Determining Columbia Renaissance Square II-Senior Contributes More Than Any Other Development to the Concerted Revitalization Efforts of the City (COUNCIL DISTRICTS  3, 7, 8 and 9)

It is recommended that the City Council:

1.  Acknowledge the receipt of requests for support for applications for 2017 Competitive (9%) Housing Tax Credits from various developers;

2.  Consider and adopt the attached Resolutions of Support for 2017 applications for Competitive (9%) Housing Tax Credits for the eight six multifamily housing developments listed below to be located at various sites throughout the City;

3.  Approve fee waivers in an amount not to exceed $2,500.00 for each of the developments listed below as commitment of development funding and find such fee waivers serve the public purpose of providing quality, accessible, affordable housing for low to moderate income households, in accordance with the City's Comprehensive Plan and Annual Action Plan and find that adequate controls are in place through the Neighborhood Services Department to carry out such public purpose; and

4.  Adopt the attached Resolution determining that Columbia Renaissance Square II-Senior to be located at the northwest corner of Moresby Street and W.G. Daniels Drive in the Berry Hill-Mason Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone is the development that contributes more than any other to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City.

On December 13, 2016, the City Council adopted a policy for Council Resolutions of Support or No Objection for 2017 applications to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for Competitive (9%) Housing Tax Credits and for local government commitment of development funding (M&C G-18902).

The approved policy requires that in order to receive a Resolution of Support, a development must have the following:

        A  minimumof five percent of the total units are dedicated as market rate units and it has met one of the following:

                (a)  ten percent of the total units dedicated for Rental Assistance Demonstration units; or

                (b)  five percent of the total units dedicated for Permanent Supportive Housing units.

City Council, at its discretion, may choose to offer developments that qualify for a Resolution of Support a commitment of development funding, such as a tax abatement or a waiver of development fees.  If a Resolution of Support is not granted, City Council may consider granting a Resolution of No Objection for the development.  

This year 17 applicants submitted pre-applications to TDHCA for proposed developments in the City of Fort Worth.  Due to the high volume of applications and limited TDHCA funding, the City desires to maximize its impact with Resolutions of Support by focusing on developments that best serve the City's housing needs. In order to achieve this goal, Staff recommends that the City Council consider additional criteria for Resolutions of Support including proximity to services and transit, whether the development will be exempt from ad valorem taxes, future land use compatibility, geographic balance throughout the City including both High Opportunity Areas and Central City Revitalization as defined by TDHCA, and school district support.

Resolutions of Support:
Staff requests that the City Council consider and adopt Resolutions of Support for the following applications:

Churchill at Golden Triangle Community to be developed by Churchill at Golden Triangle Community, L.P., an affiliate of Churchill Senior Residential, LLC, to be located in the11000 block of Metroport Way (formerly Keller Hicks Road), south of Timberland Boulevard and east of the 11000 block of IH-35W Service Road (Council District 7, Mapsco 21G and 21L).  The site for the proposed development is zoned PD/D - Planned Development for all uses in "D" High Density Multifamily/I-35 Overlay with a maximum of 118 units.

Columbia Renaissance Square II-Senior to be developed by Columbia Renaissance Square II, L.P., an affiliate of New Columbia Residential, LLC, to be located at the northwest corner of Moresby Street and W.G. Daniels Drive (Council District 8, Mapsco 78X and 78W).   The site for the proposed development is zoned PD/D - Planned Development for all uses in "D" High Density Multifamily.

Gala at Alta Vista be developed by Gala at Alta Vista, LP, an affiliate of Gardner Capital Development, Inc., to be located at the northeast quadrant of Keller Hicks Road and Alta Vista Road (Council District 7, Mapsco 21K).  The site for the proposed development is zoned "E" Neighborhood Commercial, but the applicant proposes a zoning change to "C" Medium Density Multifamily.

Mistletoe Station to be developed by Mistletoe Station, LLC, an affiliate of Saigebrook Development, LLC, to be located approximately at 1916 Mistletoe Boulevard and 2116 Beckham Place(Council District 9, Mapsco 76L).  The site for the proposed development is zoned "NS-T5" Near Southside which allows for high density, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development.

Palladium Fort Worth be developed by Palladium Fort Worth, Ltd., an affiliate of Palladium USA, Inc., to be located at the north side of Westpoint Boulevard west of Loop 820 (Council District 3, Mapsco 72D).  The site for the proposed development is zoned "C" Medium Density Multifamily.

Vista Park West to be developed by AMTEX Vista Park Fund, LP, an affiliate AMTEX Multi-housing, LLC, to be located approximately at 2001 Chapel Creek Boulevard (Council District 3, Mapsco 72B).  The site for the proposed development is zoned "C" Medium Density Multifamily.

Reserve at Silver Creek to be developed by Reserve at Silver Creek, LLC, an affiliate of the MV Affordable Housing LLC and Generation Housing Development, LLC, to be located at the northwest corner of Silver Creek Road and Verna Trail North (Council District 3, Mapsco 58L and 58M).  The site for the proposed development is zoned "A-10" - One-Family, but the applicant proposes a zoning change for a master planned community to include but not be limited to a variety of housing types and recreational features.

The Vineyard on Lancaster to be developed by The Vineyard on Lancaster, L.P., an affiliate of Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, to be located approximately at 1413 East Lancaster Avenue (Council District 8, Mapsco 77C). The site for the proposed development is zoned both PD/MU-2 - Planned Development for all uses in MU-2 and "MU-2" Low Intensity Mixed-Use which allows for higher density, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development for designated mixed-use growth centers and urban villages so as to concentrate a variety of housing types among neighborhood-serving commercial and institutional uses. The PD with a site plan was required for shelter use since a portion of the subject property may be used by Union Gospel Mission for a homeless shelter. As The Vineyard on Lancaster is a residential project that meets the MU-2 district regulations, the PD district is not necessary and needs to be removed. The applicant proposes a zoning change to MU-2 for the entire proposed development.

Commitment of Development Funding:
The policy also allows, at City Council discretion, a commitment of development funding. This commitment of development funding qualifies applicants for an additional point and increases the competitiveness of their applications.  Staff requests that City Council approve commitments of development funding in the form of fee waivers in an amount not to exceed $2,500.00 for each application recommended for a Resolution of Support.  The fee waiver amount may be applied to (a) building permit related fees (including Plans Review, Inspections and Re−inspection Fees); (b) Plat/Replat Application Fees; (c) Board of Adjustment Application Fees; (d) Demolition Fees; (e) Structure Moving Fees; (f) Zoning Fees; (g) Street/Alley and Utility Easement Vacation Application Fees; (h) Temporary Encroachment Fees; (i) Consent/Encroachment Agreement Application Fees; (j) Urban Forestry Application Fees; (k) Sign Permit Fees; (l) Community Facilities Agreement (CFA) Application Fees; and (m) Street Closure Fees.

Fee waivers will be conditioned upon the development receiving an allocation of Housing Tax Credits by TDHCA.  The City's Neighborhood Services Department will be responsible for verifying that the public purpose for the fee waivers is carried out.

Concerted Revitalization Plan:
TDHCA rules state that an application may receive additional points if the proposed development is identified in a resolution as contributing more than any other development to a city or county's concerted revitalization efforts.  The Columbia Renaissance Square II-Senior development is located in the Berry Hill-Mason Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) which was adopted by the City Council in 2007 along with a strategic plan for the area.  Staff determined that this development will significantly contribute to the continued revitalization efforts in the NEZ because it is housing targeted for seniors.  In addition, the increased density will support the new retail, office and multifamily development located in the NEZ.  Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution determining that the Columbia Renaissance Square II-Senior development contributes more than any other to the concerted revitalization efforts of the City, in that the development will significantly contribute to the revitalization efforts underway in the NEZ.

All of these proposed developments are subject to all applicable City laws, ordinances, policies and procedures including those pertaining to zoning changes and annexation.  Councilmember support for purposes of these Resolutions does not constitute approval of any required zoning change or annexation.

The proposed developments are located in COUNCIL DISTRICTS 3, 7, 8 and 9.

This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.