D. Affordable Housing Alternative Standards Request
(1) Purpose
The purpose of the Affordable Housing Alternative Standards request is to authorize administrative review and approval of alternatives to certain standards of this Code in order to encourage and expedite affordable housing recommendations of the Sedona Community Plan and the City’s adopted Development Incentives and Guidelines for Affordable Housing (DIGAH).
(2) Applicability
a. Standards That May Be Modified
Any applicant proposing an affordable housing development may submit a request to modify certain standards of this Code in accordance with the DIGAH. As provided in the DIGAH, the Director may authorize modifications to the dimensional standards that would otherwise apply in the applicable zoning district(s).
b. Not Eligible if Already Modified
1. Application of Affordable Housing Alternative Standards authorized by this section shall not be considered where the same standard(s) on the subject property were already modified through a separate minor modification or variance. Application of a separate minor modification or variance shall not be considered where the same standards on the subject property were already modified through the approval of Affordable Housing Alternative Standards.
2. Modifications to an approved PD plan require a PD plan amendment pursuant to subsection 8.6.B(3)g.4, PD Plan Amendments.
(3) Application Submittal and Review Procedure
a. Application Submittal and Handling
1. A request for Affordable Housing Alternative Standards shall be submitted to the Director following a pre-application meeting and before a development application is submitted.
2. A minimum of 15 days prior to a decision on a request for an Affordable Housing Alternative, the owners of all properties within 300 feet of the exterior boundaries of the subject property shall be notified by first class mail.
b. Review and Decision
1. The Director shall review the request for Affordable Housing Alternative Standards and shall provide a formal written decision on the request based on the approval criteria below.
2. Approval of an Affordable Housing Alternative shall authorize the applicant to submit a development application that reflects the applicable modified standard(s). The written Affordable Housing Alternative decision shall be included with the development application.
(4) Approval Criteria
In deciding whether to approve a requested Affordable Housing Alternative, the Director shall consider the extent to which the proposed alternative addresses the following:
a. The number, size and type of housing units approved; relevant details of the development, including the percentage of units designated as affordable; the degree of affordability including, but not limited to, target population percentage of Area Median Income); the number, bedroom size and location of AHUs and market rate units; timeframe for AHU designation.
b. The City’s purposes and goals as related to affordable housing, as outlined in the Sedona Community Plan, Community Focus Area plans, the Development Incentives and Guidelines for Affordable Housing (DIGAH) and any other applicable plans.
c. The additional employment base created by the proposed development. [Ord. 2020-04 § 1, 9-8-20 (Res. 2020-16)].