Northport is reviewing language in its Attainable Housing Facilities Exemption Ordinance. The issue discussed by Council is how to clarify owner-occupancy requirements and align the ordinance with prior policy direction. Tax exemptions can help make attainable housing financially possible, but they also reduce tax revenue or shift more burden to other taxpayers. Owner-occupancy rules can help make sure benefits go to year-round residents rather than investors, but they can also make projects harder to finance or administer. The debate is how strict Northport should be when offering public tax benefits for housing. A housing tax break should buy a real public benefit, not just a nicer spreadsheet for a project that would happen anyway.
How should Northport structure tax exemptions for attainable housing?