Summary of Augusta County Housing Discussions: MOU Rejection & Builder Collaboration
This article details two key discussions regarding housing in Augusta County,Virginia,during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting.
1. MOU Rejection:
* A proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Augusta County and several housing-focused entities (including Habitat for Humanity, Valley Blue Ridge, and others) was unanimously rejected by the board.
* Purpose of the MOU: The MOU aimed to formalize existing collaborative efforts to address community housing needs, provide technical assistance, leverage resources, and engage the public.
* Arguments for the MOU: Jennifer Whetzel (Deputy County Administrator) stated it would strengthen partnerships and improve chances of securing funding.
* Arguments against the MOU (led by Supervisor Scott Seaton): Seaton believed the county didn’t need the agreement, feared creating a new “entity,” and was concerned about adding to the workload of already busy county staff. He felt the existing informal collaboration was sufficient.
2. Collaboration with Augusta Home Builders Association:
* Scott Williams, president of the Augusta Home Builders Association (representing 110 members), addressed the board, expressing concern about rising housing costs despite previous attempts at collaboration.
* Builder’s Request: the Association requested the Board approve engagement between county staff and the development community to brainstorm solutions for increasing affordable housing.They emphasized the urgency of the situation.
* Board Response: Supervisor Carolyn Bragg supported the request and asked county staff to work with the Association to develop proposals.
* The article notes that a current county ordinance is also being considered (though details are not provided in this excerpt).
In essence: The county rejected a formal agreement to collaborate on housing, but did agree to work with local builders to explore solutions to the housing affordability issue. This suggests a preference for direct engagement with the development community over a broader, formalized partnership.
