Broward Housing Council Regular Meeting – June 26, 2026

The Broward Housing Council (BHC) held its regular meeting on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 10:11 AM in Room 430 of the Broward County Government Center East, Fort Lauderdale. Vice-Chair Beth Daly chaired the meeting in the absence of Chair Christopher Krzemien. The meeting initially lacked a quorum but achieved one later. The council heard a guest presentation on YIGBY (Yes In God’s Backyard) legislation, received a comprehensive plan update, approved previous meeting minutes, and heard reports from the Continuum of Care Advisory Board, the Florida Realtors®, and the Housing Director. Public comment focused on nonprofit housing models for the upcoming fall workshop.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of February 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes – Approved as amended to correct attendance (adding Maura Bulman and Luke Harrigan as present). Motion by Ajibola Balogun, seconded by Beth Daly; all in favor.
• Approval of May 15, 2026 Meeting Minutes – Approved as presented. Motion by Michele Collie, seconded by Ajibola Balogun; all in favor.

Guest Speaker: Yes In God’s Backyard (YIGBY) + Live Local 4.0

• Note: The agenda listed Kody Glazer, Esq., but the actual presenter was Ryan McKinless, Policy Analyst at the Florida Housing Coalition.
• McKinless explained two YIGBY tools in Florida:
  • Optional YIGBY (2025): Allows local governments to permit affordable housing on religious‑institution land under a local ordinance, with at least 10% of units affordable at ≤120% AMI. Offers flexibility in housing type, tenure, affordability term, and development standards.
  • Mandatory YIGBY (HB 1389, effective July 1, 2026): Extends the Live Local Act land‑use mandate to qualifying religious‑institution land (≥3 acres, active house of worship ≥10 years). Requires at least 40% of units affordable at ≤120% AMI for at least 30 years, and allows multifamily/mixed‑use by right.
• Key Data: In Broward County, the local option would qualify roughly six times more parcels (~2,800 acres) than the state mandate (~1,800 acres).
• McKinless urged the council not to abandon local YIGBY work, noting its broader applicability and flexibility.

Discussion Items

Broward Next Comprehensive Plan Update

• Heather Cunniff, AICP, Planning Section Supervisor, presented the update aimed for adoption by May 5, 2027 (in advance of the 2027 Evaluation and Appraisal Report).
• The comprehensive plan balances all community elements (water, transportation, housing, etc.). The housing element addresses current/future residents, substandard dwellings, site adequacy, and preservation.
• Council discussion centered on:
  • Where affordable housing should be located: Near transit, schools, parks, and shopping; not near highways, waste facilities, or prisons.
  • Preferred unit types: A mix including three‑bedroom units (Tanisha Taylor noted a shortage for larger households), single‑family, multifamily, townhomes, and mixed‑use developments. Discussion also highlighted the need for homeownership pathways—such as condo conversions and community land trusts—and the regulatory limitations on mandating form of ownership.
• Director Delsalle noted that the county is pursuing for‑sale projects (e.g., Rock Island Homes, ~36 homes) and that policies can encourage homeownership through funding programs, not zoning.

Chair’s Report & Committee Reports

• Continuum of Care (CoC) Advisory Board Report (Teneshia Taylor):
  • The 2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was released with significant program changes; the council is monitoring impacts. A major concern is reallocation from permanent housing to transitional housing, which could increase the at‑risk population.
  • Property tax exemption proposals were discussed as a threat to housing affordability.
• Florida Realtors® Report (Beth Daly, Vice‑Chair):
  • The bipartisan 21st Century Road Housing Act passed Congress but awaits presidential signature. It streamlines permitting, incentivizes housing supply, supports adaptive reuse, expands financing for affordable/workforce housing, and limits institutional investor activity.

Director’s Report

• Darby Delsalle, AICP, Director of HUPD, provided updates:
  • TIF Gap Financing: Four projects awarded (Hallandale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale) – 732 total units, of which 712 will be affordable. $5 million of TIF funds set aside for homeownership purchase assistance ($1 M per commission district plus $1 M for BMSD).
  • CDBG‑DR (2023 floods): Commission allocated $12.5 M for projects >70 units, $5 M (plus $1 M TIP) for projects <70 units, $3 M for home repair, and $6 M for infrastructure/resiliency. Action plan to be resubmitted to HUD over summer.
  • County‑owned properties:
    • Thurston property (27th Ave & 4th St): Under contract, planned 42 units with ~5,000 sq ft commercial.
    • 27th Ave & Sistrunk: Acquisition of corner parcel plus seven adjacent lots for a mixed‑use mid‑rise with townhomes; environmental monitoring underway.
    • Rock Island Homes (former medical examiner site, ~7.4 acres): Planned ~36 for‑sale single‑family homes.
  • The 2025 BHC Annual Report was submitted to the Board of County Commissioners on June 9, 2026.
  • June is National Homeownership Month; resources posted on the BHC website.

Public Comments & Testimony

Three speakers addressed the council, all requesting that the fall workshop include presentations on nonprofit housing models:

• Tranice Bryant (Executive Director, SMASH – Struggle for Miami’s Affordable and Sustainable Housing, a Broward constituent): Asked for a seat at the fall workshop to present on community land trusts (CLTs) and other nonprofit options. She noted her work with a cooperative CLT in Miami.
• Jennifer Jones (Hope and Action Indivisible, partner with Florida Rising): Shared a personal story of her 25‑year‑old son who left Broward because he could not afford rent. Proposed a presentation on the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County, Maryland, a nationally recognized model for mixed‑income, county‑owned housing.
• M. Thjoline Johnson (Broward resident, combat veteran, Florida Rising member): Stressed the severity of the housing crisis (citing rent increases from $500 to $900–$1,100). Urged the council to focus on permanent structural solutions, including CLT models and the HOC model, which won the Ivory Prize for housing affordability.

The council thanked the speakers; no formal action was taken on the request.

Key Outcomes

• Meeting minutes approved (February and May 2026).
• Fall Workshop (new business) tabled – The council deferred setting a date and agenda; public comments expressed strong interest in including nonprofit housing models (CLTs, HOC Montgomery County) as workshop topics.
• Next meeting: Friday, August 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Room 430, Broward County Government Center.