ORANGE : Affordable Housing Construction Urged

The city has adopted a new plan that offers developers incentives to build affordable housing, part of an attempt to make 20% of new homes accessible to low- and moderate-income people.

The Affordable Housing Plan adopted by the City Council last week “promotes and encourages” housing for people of modest means, rather than requiring builders to provide it. The plan’s only compulsory clause requires developers of projects containing more than 10 units to discuss affordable housing options with the city.

In Orange County, a family of four earning less than $40,000 is considered low income and should spend no more than $10,000 annually, or $850 per month, on housing. A family of four earning less than $29,000 per year is considered very low income in Orange County, according to the regulations.

Council members supported the plan but said they wanted the city to monitor income levels of occupants.

“Obviously, I strongly favor this plan,” said Councilman Mark A. Murphy, who sat on the steering committee for the program. “This is a private sector plan for a public sector need.”