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<br /> <br />The neighbors’ objections were not a surprise, though Ms. Prosnitz did note that there was a lot <br />of emotion in the meeting. The AHT is preparing an FAQ to address the concerns and to show <br />that the AHT is taking note of them. Ms. Prosnitz asked for the HPB’s support at the many <br />upcoming meetings about the Lowell Street projects. <br />The members of the HPB then asked questions of Ms. Prosnitz. <br />4. Warrant Article 33: Authorize AHT to seek Affordable Housing <br />Ms. Prosnitz asked for a letter of support regarding Article 33. Ms. Manz asked for the HPB’s <br />sense as to whether the Board should support the article with a letter. <br />Ms. Hai clarified that Article 33 both designates the land for affordable housing and authorizes <br />the Select Board to provide the land to the AHT. Mr. Pressman added that the article also says <br />that an RFP will be issued. <br />Ms. Cohen moved that Ms. Manz or her designee write a letter of support of article 33. <br />Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the <br />motion. <br />5. Report on outreach to Michelle Ciccolo on receipt of Lexington SB RETF letter <br />Ms. Heitz reported that Ms. Ciccolo submitted the Select Board’s letter of support for the RETF <br />to the legislative hearing regarding the RETF. <br />6. Report on Fair Housing Webinar <br />This discussion was deferred to a later meeting. <br />7. Report on SB receipt of Housing Feasibility Study on Town-Owned Land, brief summary of <br />content, discussion of next steps <br />Ms. Byrnes reported on the presentation by LDA Architects of the study of 3 town-owned <br />properties: the Depot parking lot in Central Lexington, the parking lot across from the bike trail <br />from the depot parking lot behind the CVS, and all or a portion of 171 to 173 Bedford Street, <br />currently being used as a temporary police station. <br />The report makes the case that there is demand but not supply for affordable housing. LDA <br />views this as a marketing failure. <br />The Town set the parameters for the LDA Architects study. These included but were not limited <br />to optimizing for number of units and also for assessing a given mix of one, two, and three- <br />bedroom units. <br />LDA concluded that, for a variety of reasons, mixed income housing is not economically feasible <br />on the lots in the center of Town. Mixed income housing is feasible on 171 to 173 Bedford <br />Street, but that property may be required for other uses, for example, using the property for <br />swing space for Town school offices. <br />Ms. Hai added that the Select Board pushed back on the feasibility for commercial development. <br />The SB also pushed back on the presumption that $6M be spent on making 173 Bedford Street