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Twice within the past 12 months, AHFA published notices (in July and February) regarding the Public Participation Process. These notices provide information in a general sense. In this issue, however, we want to stress the critical importance of making project-specific comments to AHFA draft plans.
When AHFA drafts a plan, every effort is made to consider the possible challenges that applicants may encounter in meeting applicable regulatory requirements that could result in less competitive project applications. AHFA strives to prepare draft plans that best serve the many and varied, affordable housing needs across the entire state of Alabama, by maximizing the production and preservation of affordable housing units with limited funding resources. Without stakeholder participation, our ability to address every issue (regulatory, environmental, location, situation, or otherwise) relative to a proposed project is unrealistic. It may result in negative or costly impacts to applications, projects, and stakeholders. Therefore, stakeholder participation is essential to improving the processes of developing and preserving affordable housing in Alabama. Stakeholders should review draft plans through both the macro and micro lenses of their proposed project(s) in relation to the plan(s).
You are encouraged (either as an individual, a member of a trade association/stakeholder group, or both) to bring all perceived barriers which may pose a negative impact to the attention of AHFA through the Public Participation Process, which begins with the release of every draft AHFA plan. Effective input includes:
- Specifics relative to the concern or issue
- Detailed negative impacts
- Clearly identified alternatives or suggested solutions (including examples as appropriate)
This is the only time and only way through which issues can be publicly identified, investigated, vetted, and addressed by AHFA in an appropriate, practical, and reasonable manner. Stakeholder engagement is the vehicle through which Alabama achieves inclusive and expansive development and preservation of affordable housing.
AHFA is required to make decisions within the bounds of the applicable laws and the regulations of the programs it administers. As such, some concerns are more appropriately addressed through planning, zoning, or other similar controls outside the purview of AHFA and are not considered in making a final plan. However, it is of critical importance that stakeholders review every facet of the draft plan in terms of specific projects and development scenarios that are unique to an applicant or affected citizen or group. These types of comments help alert AHFA to situations that may hamper the construction or preservation of an otherwise successful affordable housing development. Working together through the public participation process allows AHFA, developers, and the public to craft plans which include practical solutions and maximize affordable housing opportunities.
If you have any questions about the citizen participation process, contact the Multifamily Division at ahfa.mf.qap@ahfa.com.
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