Libertyville housing plan allows for seniors, mixed income

Younger families, public employees, seniors and others who have found themselves priced out of the Libertyville housing market may find more options as the village puts a new plan into action.

The village may pursue changes that would require new developments to include a certain percentage of affordable housing, for example. Officials also are considering putting limits on teardowns and building rental housing for seniors downtown.

It's all part of a strategy to create and maintain a balance of different types of housing for the coming decades.

Libertyville's housing policy plan is the result of several months of study. The village, with Aurora and Oak Forest are the first to participate in a pilot project run by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago Metropolis 2020, a regional group created to promote long-term planning.

By agreeing to be part of the pilot project, the village essentially gained access to detailed housing supply and demand information that it otherwise would have had to pay a consultant to gather.

That type of data is important because of the Illinois Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act, which requires communities to keep at least 10 percent of its housing stock affordable. Affordability generally is defined as spending 30 percent of income on housing costs, including the mortgage, utilities, insurance and taxes.

Nearly 13 percent of the housing in Libertyville was considered affordable in 2000. That since has dropped to 7 percent, said John Spoden, community development director.

The housing plan gives the village a springboard to make changes in its zoning code to address the issues, Spoden said.

One strategy is to change the zoning ordinance to ensure that at least 15 percent of all housing units in new developments are considered affordable.

"The state is going to tell us to address it if we don't," he added.

Although some of the data was from the 2000 census and has changed since, the trend that the cost of homes were out of reach for many residents has remained.

Projections show, for example, that the village needs to create at least 200 new rental housing units for low-income residents. Conversely, to keep its balance, the village also will need rentals for middle-income residents, as well as upscale offerings.

Libertyville will need a number of entry level condos with access to transportation, according to the findings. Also, homes typically occupied by those earning $50,000 to $125,000 need to be preserved.

There also will be a need, however, for upscale condos or larger homes for those earning more than $125,000.

The plan also suggests the village prioritize areas for new mixed-income housing and consider establishing a community land trust, such as operates in Highland Park, to buy homes and offer them at affordable prices.