Sarasota County may eliminate affordable housing requirements for new developments

SARASOTA — Now that state lawmakers have removed previously mandatory incentives for local governments to create affordable housing, Sarasota County on Tuesday will consider a number of sweeping changes to affordability requirements.

One option is to eliminate affordable housing mandates.

Commissioners on Tuesday may also consider amending the county planning maps and codes. That effort is meant to incentivize, not require, affordable housing in certain areas of the county.

This comes after state lawmakers last year approved Florida House Bill 7108, which restricted local governments’ ability to create affordable housing in new development or to cap prices.

The bill also made the mechanism to make the provision of affordable housing voluntary.

Read more: https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2020/09/21/sarasota-county-may-look-eliminate-affordable-housing-requirements/5856729002/
(Sarasota Herald Tribune)