As housing shortages continue to challenge the community, Danville is set to allocate an additional $2 million to housing initiatives, with the city council preparing to review a key budget amendment on Tuesday. This proposal seeks to fund efforts aimed at attracting developers to undertake single-family housing projects within the city.

Funding for this initiative would be drawn from the unassigned general fund balance designated for the Housing Study Action Plan. This allocation could potentially be renewed annually as long as the need persists.

Commissioned in 2022, the city’s housing study revealed a significant shortage of housing options across all styles and income levels in Danville. Following the study’s findings, the city introduced incentive programs and began marketing itself to housing developers to stimulate new construction in the area. While these initiatives have shown success in promoting multifamily housing developments, there has been limited progress in securing single-family projects, according to city officials.

The goal of the ordinance amendment is to bolster city efforts to entice developers to invest in new single-family housing. Such developments would enhance the city’s housing supply and provide affordable options for both new and existing residents. Increasing the housing stock in Danville is expected to make the city more appealing to higher-wage employers and contribute positively to the overall quality of life and economic conditions, as highlighted in a letter from city staff to the council.

Approval of this budget amendment is recommended by city staff. Additionally, the council will consider another amendment to support an open house event at the Danville Regional Airport, along with several special-use permits and proposed changes to the city charter.

The full agenda for the upcoming meeting is available here. This will be the only city council or board meeting scheduled for the first week of October.