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Regulations allowing zero lot line subdivisions (Land Development Regulations Section 915.15) Policies providing for the establishment of a Local Housing Assistance Program to allow the county to utilize State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funds for the provision of affordable housing (Local Housing Assistance program, Local Housing Assistance plan, Housing Element policies 2.7, 3.5. 4.4, 4.6 4.7. 4.9, and 9.1) • Housing Incentive Plan One requirement that the county had to meet to receive SHIP funds was to prepare and adopt a housing incentive plan. Like all counties and eligible municipalities participating in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP), Indian River County had to adopt an affordable housing incentive plan within 12 months after the establishment of its local housing assistance program. Indian River County's adopted Housing Incentive Plan includes various initiatives including the following: • Expedited processing of permits for affordable housing projects. • Modified impact fee requirements. • Allowance of increased density levels. • Reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing projects serving very low-income and low- income persons. • Transfer of development rights as a financing mechanism for housing for very low-income and low-income persons. • Allowance of zero -lot -line configurations. • Establishment of a process by which a local government considers, before adoption. policies, procedures. ordinances. regulations. or plan provisions that have a significant impact on the cost of housing. • Provision of Affordable Housing As indicated above. the private sector is not providing any significant amount of non -subsidized affordable housing. In order to address the need for affordable housing then, government assistance must be provided. This assistance is available and being provided through various state and federal affordable housing programs. In Indian River County, the SHIP (State Housing Initiative Partnership) program is a significant source of affordable housing assistance. Funded through documentary tax revenue passed through by the state the SHIP program is administered by county planning staff. As structured. the county's SHIP program operates as a revolving loan fund. whereby low interest and no interest Loans are given primarily to low and very low income households for down payment and closing cost assistance with the principal eventually returned to the SHIP fund. At current funding levels (approximately $1.2 million in FY 2000/2001 and $900,000 projected for FY 2001/2002). the SHIP program is assisting approximately 60 households a year. Because the SHIP program focuses almost exclusively on home ownership by assisting low and very low income households purchase and/or rehabilitate homes. the program provides several community benefits. Not only does the SHIP program meet a part of the county's affordable housing need; it also provides the benefit of creating homeowners, a_group which generally creates neighborhood stability, maintains its housing, and contributes to the community. February 13, 2001 107 B1(II7PG119 fZ