Affordable Housing Subcommittee Meeting | September 1, 2026

The Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee met on September 1, 2026, to discuss several procurement and policy matters related to affordable housing development and grant programs. Key procurement-related discussions included proposed amendments to subcommittee bylaws, potential increases to program maximum grants per household, and the consolidation of new start and administrative support programs to reduce applicant burden. The subcommittee also reviewed a staff proposal to require a minimum 10% deferred developer fee on loan-funded housing development projects to better align loan commitments with actual developer fees and potentially free up county funds for other housing activities. Additionally, the group examined proposed special cash flow payment terms for county loans, benchmarking against peer programs in other North Carolina jurisdictions, and emphasized the importance of clear upfront repayment terms to avoid post-award negotiations. The subcommittee voted to approve the bylaws revision and to move forward with the 10% deferred developer fee and cash flow payment proposals, with a recommendation to present these to the full Board of Commissioners in October. The meeting also included a detailed update on the allocation and impact of CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery) funds for affordable housing projects in Buncombe County, highlighting challenges with tax credit awards and funding gaps for specific projects such as Cox Avenue. The subcommittee expressed interest in engaging state agencies to address funding and programmatic issues affecting local housing recovery efforts. The next meeting was scheduled for October 6, 2026.