Planning Board minutes 1989-10-23

Browse Search

Minutes for the Meeting of October 23, 1989 2 257. Royal Circle, Barry Caouette, Endorsement of Plans: Mr. Bowyer reported Town Counsel has about completed his review of the covenant, and the plans are ready to be endorsed. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mr. Williams, it was voted 4-0 to endorse the plans for Royal Circle Subdivision, with the stipulation that the plans will not be recorded until the covenant is found acceptable to the Town Counsel. *************************** AFFORDABLE HOUSING ****************************** 258. Comprehensive Permit Procedure a. Amend Definition of Affordable Housing: The Board reviewed proposed changes in the "Comprehensive Plan Definition of Households with Incomes Qualifying for Affordable Housing" that would use the same ranges of income that EOCD uses. Mr. Bowyer noted that the differences between the present definition and the revised definition is found in the Upper Moderate and Middle Income incomes, where the upper range of the percentages are revised to 110% and 125% respectively, compared to the 1985-1988 definition where the upper range of the percentages are 120% and 150% respectively of the Boston SMSA median income. Mr. Bowyer reported the top of the range which EOCD uses to determine eligibi- lity would be 110% of the Boston SMSA median income. He proposed a figure for Middle Income above the 110%, since there may be some merit in retaining this category for use in Lexington situations only, but he suggested the range only go to 125% of the median income rather than 150% in the current definition. He noted the 1989 median income for a family of four is $45,000, and the ranges for the 1985-1988 definition and the proposed revised definition are both based on this figure. Mrs. Klauminzer questioned whether the range needed to include the Middle Income category since many had questioned why the Town considered providing housing for anyone with incomes that high. She added it appeared to extend benefits to persons who do not really need them. The Board discussed whether to include the Middle Income category in the definition, and agreed to delete it since the State does not accept anyone with that income as part of a state program. On the motion of Mrs. Klauminzer, seconded by Mrs. Uhrig, it was voted unanimously to: (1) approve a new "Comprehensive Plan Definition of House- holds with Incomes Qualifying for Affordable Housing" with new ranges of income in relation to the median income for the Boston SMSA, and (2) delete the Middle Income range category from the definition since it is not consis- tent with State programs and is no longer consistent with the town's housing needs. b. Discussion of Proposed New Regulations Concerning M.G.L. Chapter 40B: Mr. Bowyer reported he is in the process of preparing an explanation of these regulations, and that the Board may wish to postpone this discussion until the explanation is completed. He pointed out some sections that he thought the Board might wish to make recommendations for amendment of the draft regula- tions. He noted the certification period was down to two years, with a recertification period of one year, and he questioned whether this period was long enough for towns to do any effective preparation of housing plans.