According to Department of Community Affairs, there is now, and will continue to be for sometime, a deficit in affordable units. These figures show a large deficit for very low and low income households for both owned and rental housing in 1995. This deficit is projected to increase. This suggests that, increasingly moderate and higher income families will find it difficult to afford to live in Martin County. Other DCA figures show that, by the year 2000, there will be an unmet need County wide for 6257 owned houses and 1389 rental units.
Martin County restricts development to the primary urban service area.
These restrictions are set out in the Future Land Use Element under existing Objectives, Goals and Policies. The public consensus appears to be that Martin County's spatial design should emphasize low density residential development. This preference is manifested in the County's four story height limitation, in the private market's preference to build low-density residential development, and in public opposition to most increases in density. So long as residents prefer to use automobiles for transportation of themselves and their families, this spatial design serves the needs of the public. Poorer people, however, may not have automobiles.