HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-07-AHTBT-min
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2023 12:00 pm
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in the Parker room, Town
Office Building
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, William
Erickson, Tiffany Payne, Linda Prosnitz
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Ragi Ramachandran,
Administrative Assistant
Other attendees: Elizabeth Rust, RHSO; Bob Pressman, Kathryn Roy
A work session of the Affordable Housing Trust was called to order at 12:04pm.
Affordable Housing Trust Work Session
1. Discussion with Julie Creamer, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Chair of
the Milton Affordable Housing Trust
The Trust discussed the following topics with Julie Creamer, CPA funding for affordable housing,
the steps to project development, pre-development assessment, development financing,
budgeting, the various subsidies that are available and will be eligible for a project. They
reviewed in detail the process to issue an RFP, and the specifics to be included in an RFP. The y
discussed 40B permitting process, LIHTC tax credit, MassWorks program and project-based
vouchers. Ms. Creamer shared her experience from working on several affordable housing
projects. She explained the developer’s perspective on costs and the various aspects they
consider for unit mix, massing, the cost to operate and for maintenance. There was discussion
on site studies, massing studies, abutters meeting, and stakeholder’s involvement. Ms. Creamer
also stated that in order to get subsidized funding, the development would need to be all rental
housing.
Ms. Creamer then shared her experience on the Milton Affordable Housing Trust. She stated
that the family production housing is looked upon favorably in towns with strong school
systems. She felt a unit count of 30 – 50 units is required to avail higher subsidies, the funding
subsidy is greater when the unit count is over 50 units, and that apartment style buildings with
two to three stories are desirable over townhouse based on cost. The Trust reviewed the
benefits from the funding subsidies allowed per project. For instance, applying for an
infrastructure related subsidy towards wastewater treatment.
The Trustees agree on the goal of delivering a meaningful project based on the Town’s needs.
2. Discussion with Michael Kennealy, former MA Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development; Affordable Housing Developers – Chris Collins, First Atlantic LLC; Charlie
Adams, Pennrose
There was discussion on mixed income development with market rate units and affordable
units; work force housing, and all affordable development. The Trust reviewed the RFP process
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on what to include and not to include, enabling an opportunity to receive all sorts of proposals
from the developers for various housing mix. They discussed the zoning process, the timelines
to anticipate for zoning, the financing, the unit mix, affordable income limits, federal and state
tax credits, and grants. They discussed approaches to affordable homeownership versus rental
and felt homeownership is difficult due to costs and liabilities.
Mr. Adams explained that 60 units is the favorable unit count from an operational efficiency
perspective. It would enable paying for the onsite staff cost for managing the development. The
timeline for a response to the RFP from the Pennrose is 3 typically months. The overall process
is getting the Town meeting’s approval for RFP, issuing the RFP, reviewing the response
proposals, signing the MOU with the developer, getting the zoning in place, applying for
funding, tax credits and grants. The time for construction estimate is 16 – 18 months. Mr.
Adams suggested addressing abutters concerns early on in the process, the need for
community engagement, and to work with ‘a shared vision’.
Adjourn
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Affordable Housing Trust voted by roll call 5 -0 to
adjourn the meeting at 2:14 pm.