Planning and Zoning Manager Cori Lynn Kramer told the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee on Oct. 29 that the village has received two Live Local Act site-plan submittals for parcels owned/contracted by NewRock, with a 106-unit proposal on each 5-acre lot called Country Landings and Country Groves.

Kramer said the Live Local Act, which took effect in 2023 and was amended in 2024, provides streamlined, administrative site-plan review and limited local waivers tied to density, floor-area ratio and height for qualifying affordable-housing projects. "The Live Local Act became effective in 2023 and then was amended in 2024," Kramer said, explaining that the statute allows applicants to request incentives without a land-use or zoning change and that village staff will continue to review projects against Wellington’s comprehensive plan and land‑development regulations.

Why it matters: staff said Live Local can speed approval by avoiding lengthy land‑use or rezoning processes, but it also reduces public notice compared with standard land-use hearings. Kramer told the committee Wellington’s overall commercial/industrial land share is roughly 5.7 percent — below Live Local’s 20 percent threshold — which means a Live Local project in Wellington must include a mixed‑use component under the statute as interpreted by staff.

Key details: Kramer described the statutory incentives and local parameters staff will apply: developers may request up to the village’s highest allowed density (22 units per acre); the maximum building height is the greater of three stories or the highest height within a one‑mile radius; and projects must demonstrate a long‑term rent restriction (Kramer cited a 30‑year restriction requirement for the affordable portion). Kramer also said that the administrative site‑plan review still requires submittals typically needed for new development, including architectural review, plats and permits.

Questions raised: committee members asked whether Live Local automatically carries grant funds or other financing. Kramer and staff replied that Live Local itself provides regulatory incentives — not automatic grants — and that developers may separately apply for county or other funds (staff said they were not certain about maximum grant amounts or specific county awards). Committee members also asked about unit sizes (no village minimum unit size exists in the code) and whether projects could produce very small "micro" units; Kramer said minimum unit sizing is informed partly by health‑department guidance and the village’s review of unit layouts.

Mixed‑use and notice: Kramer said the village interprets the Live Local mixed‑use requirement practically, but staff is seeking clarification on what minimum commercial build‑out would be functional (for example, whether a small commercial shell would meet the requirement). She confirmed that Live Local reviews are administrative (no statutory public‑hearing notice is required) and that the village posts active Live Local projects on an interactive map and the Live Local web page; staff encouraged developers to reach out to neighbors even though formal notice is not required.

Environmental and traffic review: staff confirmed that traffic analysis, environmental review and other standard technical studies remain part of the site‑plan review and must be satisfied before a stamped approved site plan is issued.

Committee influence and next steps: committee members pressed on whether the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee would have a formal role in the Live Local approvals; staff said these site‑plan decisions are administrative and that the committee’s direct influence on individual Live Local site‑plan approvals is limited. Kramer said the incentive report that concerns SHIP funds, if approved by the committee, will proceed to village council. Staff reported that comments had been issued to the developer and a resubmittal was expected.

Ending: staff said they will post updated attachments and plans on the Live Local page as they receive resubmittals and will return with additional details as applications evolve.