Thanks for taking time to provide input on the preliminary recommendations developed in response to Chamblee’s housing study and related community survey.

Documents with details for each type of recommendation (Land Use, Regulatory, Financial, and Capacity) are linked below for you to download and view alongside the brief summaries below.

Preliminary Recommendations-May

Please share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback via the comment boxes below. Questions or other ideas? Email us at housing@chambleega.gov

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* 1. Land Use 

This set of recommendations focuses on different ways that the City of Chamblee can encourage property owners (both public and private) to utilize their land to create or support different types of housing at different price points.

Inclusionary Zoning requires any new residential development (usually of a certain size) to include a set aside of some units that are priced at a certain level. Prices are often tied to regional Area Median Income (AMI) levels. Inclusionary zoning is used to increase pricing diversity of housing.

Zoning Overlay Districts provide property owners an alternative development opportunity (to include a diversity of housing, in this case) within a defined area that benefits both the owners and community.

In-Fill Development encourages property owners whose land can accommodate additional development to make the most of their asset.  In this case, it would encourage building new housing to complement existing uses.

Development Potential of Public Land The City and other public land holders in the city can consider the potential to co-locate deed restricted housing development with existing uses (e.g., a library). 

What do you think about this grouping of recommendations? What questions, concerns, or feedback do you have about these strategies?

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* 2. Regulatory

These recommendations focus on the City’s existing and potential rules and regulations to promote better housing conditions for existing Chamblee residents. State-level legislation also plays a role in implementing these recommendations. 

Anonymous Code Enforcement Violation Reporting Create an anonymous tip line for tenants to report code violations to the City, with an interest in protecting them from potential retribution for reporting the violations.

Approved Inspectors Require third-party inspectors that want to take on projects in Chamblee to join a pre-approved vendors list by submitting their credentials and qualifications to ensure all rental housing units are assessed fairly and thoroughly. 

State Legislative Changes Current Georgia Code limits a city’s ability to inspect and enforce safe living conditions, only allowing for inspections with cause which often only comes after a tenant complaint.  Advocating for these laws to be revised will help the Chamblee improve living conditions for renters.

Rental Housing Registration State legislative change is also needed in order to require that rental units register with the City to obtain and maintain a certificate of occupancy.

Unscheduled Inspections Right now all multifamily residential developments are inspected on a regular basis, but the property owner selects which sampling of units are inspected at a time and choose their own private inspector. Conducting inspections without advanced notice to the rental property owner  would encourage better property maintenance and prevent inspectors being ‘steered’ towards certain, better-maintained units.

Required Inspections for Rental Properties The state code prohibits the city from requiring inspections of the inside of all units.  Changing this will ensure every Chamblee renter has the same access to healthy living conditions.

What do you think about this grouping of recommendations? What questions, concerns, or feedback do you have about these strategies?

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* 3. Financial

Providing price-controlled housing is expensive.  In addition to land use changes, the most effective approach to meeting diverse housing price needs is to become a co-investor in developing and rehabilitating housing units that meet needs that the private market won't build for.

Housing Opportunity Bond Fund A fund dedicated to helping to build new, price-controlled housing to ensure potential owner and renter households have access to Chamblee.

Housing Rehabilitation Fund A fund to promote quality living conditions in the city’s existing rental housing stock.  This fund can help defray rehab costs in rental developments that are committed to price diversity.

Housing Community Land Trust A land trust is an entity that holds ownership of land used to develop deed restricted housing.  The Land Trust maintains ownership of the land while the buildings are held by owner-occupants or landlords (for rental housing).  Holding the land separately allows for lower-cost housing.

What do you think about this grouping of recommendations? What questions, concerns, or feedback do you have about these strategies?

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* 4. Capacity

Chamblee is home to many community leaders and organizations that couldbe strong collaborators with the City of Chamblee on work to address housing needs.  This will lessen the necessary investment of staff and resources by the city.  However, the city will need to invest some resources to maximize the benefit from its housing efforts. 

Marketing and Outreach Related to Resources At a base level, the city needs dedicated staff time to better communicate and coordinate with citizens, businesses, investors, and implementation partners specifically about housing resources and programs. 

Housing Director Staffing If the city chooses to invest in housing development and rehabilitation, it will need a staff member with experience and expertise in managing these financial programs and engaging partners.

What do you think about this grouping of recommendations? What questions, concerns, or feedback do you have about these strategies?

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