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Comprehensive Plan Housing Element Zero Lot Line Subdivisions Section 915.15 of the LDRs allows for development of zero lot line subdivisions and other projects which vary from conventional zoning district requirements. Through the county's planned development (LDR section 915) process, affordable housing projects with smaller lots can be constructed. Some of these allowances, such as the 20% affordable housing density bonus, the accessory single- family dwelling unit provision, the allowance of multi -family dwelling units in conjunction with commercial development, and the provision for zero lot line subdivisions, have been used by developers to construct affordable housing in the county. For example, the density bonus provision has helped some developers obtain funding from the state's Low-income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. This has produced some much needed affordable rental housing within the county. • SHIP and HHR Programs Indian River County's Local Housing Assistance Program (LHAP) has been in effect since June of 1993. This program is funded with money from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) and with loan repayments from the county's revolving SHIP loan program. All funds are deposited in the county's affordable housing trust fund. As structured, the county's LHAP provides downpayment/closing cost loan assistance, rehabilitation loan assistance, impact fee/capacity charge loan assistance, emergency disaster repair loan assistance, and land acquisition loan assistance to extremely low income, very low income, low income, and moderate income households. Each year, the county earmarks a portion of its SHIP funds for Habitat for Humanity (HFH) clients. This earmarking is beneficial to HFH and to the county. Overall, SHIP funds pay more than 50% of the cost of building each HFH home, thereby allowing HFH to build more units. Since HFH constructs new housing units for extremely low, very low, and low income households, HFH helps the county meet state requirements that mandate at least 30% of SHIP funds be utilized by very low income households and 30% by low income households. Also, HFH helps the county meet the requirement that at least 75% of the funds be used for construction. Between 2000 and 2005, the amount of SHIP assistance per applicant was increased to address the substantial increase in housing prices that occurred during that period. For example, downpayment/closing cost assistance for very low income households was increased from $15,000 to $50,000 between 2000 and 2005 and was then decreased to $30,000 in 2007. Although this per applicant increase in SHIP funding allowed more very low income and low income households to qualify for home purchases, that higher funding resulted in fewer applicants being assisted. With the amount of rehabilitation assistance per housing unit increased, the county's program ensured that all code and safety issues were addressed with owner occupied housing rehabilitation projects. After the 2004 hurricanes, the county was awarded a one time allocation of Hurricane Housing Recovery (HHR) funds. As structured, HHR assistance strategies are similar to SHIP assistance strategies. Unlike the SHIP program, however, HHR funds may be used, and in Indian River County 12 Community Development Department Indian River County