2024-02-01-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for February 1, 2024 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Margaret Heitz, Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Wendy Manz (Chair), Bob Pressman, Betsey Weiss (Vice Chair), John Zhao (COA). Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Paul Linton, Samita Mandelia, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Melanie Thompson Guests: Abby McCabe (Planning Director), Linda Prosnitz (AHT), Kathryn Roy The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Wendy Manz and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Manz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Report on site visit to Widnall property Ms. Weiss and Ms. Manz joined the Conservation Committee in walking the property belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Widnall. The Widnalls are considering selling to the Town the back part of their property, which fronts on Follen Road. The portion of the property that is being considered for sale may not be suitable for housing because it is steep and wooded. While the parcel under consideration may not be suitable for housing, Ms. Manz notes that she was pleased that the HPB was invited to do the walk through, as a test of the proposed land acquisition policy. Mr. Pressman noted that the parcel can be reached along Follen Road. According to Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss has previously said that LexHAB had assessed that parcel for housing and did not think building housing on it would be financially viable. 3. Report on AHT Neighborhood Meeting re North St. Ms. Heitz attended via Zoom; Ms. Manz attended the meeting in person. Ms. Manz estimated that 15 to 20 people were at the meeting. The attendees were mostly abutters. Ms. Heitz said that Ms. Tung gave an overview of the project as it stands today. The abutters asked as to how many units would be built. Ms. Tung said that no decisions have been made, that the AHT would be creating an RFP to explore the housing possibilities, but there was a potential for 50 units. The neighbors raised issues of density and traffic. Ms. Rust said that the concerns that the neighbors raised were very similar to concerns raised by neighbors to other similar projects. Several attendees at the meeting said they thought the tone of the meeting was not cordial. Ms. Hai said that the next morning the Board and Ms. Hai received letters with objections to the plan. Ms. Hai has written back to the person who had written to the Board, laying out the process for development of the land, should that happen. Mr. Zhao said that letters objecting to use of the land for housing have been sent to Precinct 5 Town Meeting members and possibly to Precinct 6 Town Meeting members. Ms. Prosnitz noted it was not a meeting of the AHT because they did not have a quorum.