§ 4.7. Findings.

(A)

The City Commission has determined that there is a severe housing shortage in the City of Delray Beach that is affordable to the everyday working families and citizens of the City; and

(B)

Florida Statutes § 166.04151 provides that a municipality may adopt and maintain any ordinance that is adopted for the purpose of increasing the supply of affordable housing using land use mechanisms such as inclusionary housing ordinances not withstanding any other provision of law; and

(C)

The City Commission recognizes that there is a growing gap between housing costs and wages in the City; and

(D)

The City of Delray Beach has a legitimate public interest in preserving the character and quality of neighborhoods which requires assuring the availability of workforce housing for moderate and lower income persons in the City; and

(E)

The City recognizes that the need to provide workforce housing is critical to maintaining a diversified and sustainable City having the character and sense of a community where people can live and work in the same area; and

(F)

The City is encouraging the production and availability of workforce housing and at the same time is cognizant that escalating land costs and rapidly diminishing amounts of land hinder the provision of sufficient workforce dwelling units by the private sector; and

(G)

The City Commission has adopted the Southwest Area Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan and Comprehensive Plan changes recognizing the need to redevelop the Southwest Neighborhood in a manner that preserves the neighborhood and provides workforce housing.

(H)

The City Commission desires to establish an additional workforce housing overlay district known as the Infill Workforce Housing Area for certain properties located west of the Intracoastal and east of I-95, outside of the coastal high hazard area and as depicted on the map attached and made a part of Article 4.7.

(I)

The City Commission also desires to establish additional incentives to encourage additional Family/Workforce Housing, including but not limited to requirements to provide additional workforce housing for developments that request increases in height and/or density pursuant to Section 4.3.4(J)(4)(b) and 4.4.13(I). [Amd. Ord. 52-08 11/18/08]

(J)

The City Commission desires to establish an additional workforce housing overlay district known as the I-95/CSX Railroad Corridor Overlay District for certain properties located east of the CSX Railroad, west of I-95, south of the E-4 Canal, and north of the Historic Depot property as depicted on the map attached and made a part of Article 4.7. [Amd. Ord. 10-07 3/20/07]