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Planning Board Minutes: March 11, 1985 2 it would most likely result in a concentration of conversions adjacent to Lexing- ton center where many of those older houses are located. Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Cripps, Mrs. Uhrig and Mrs. Smith favored leaving the minimum lot area and floor area provisions as is. Several editorial changes were agreed to and the staff was requested to prepare a revised draft. 62. Article 16, Congregate Living Facility: The Board reviewed a draft of a report dated March 8, 1985. The general criticism was that the report appeared to give more attention to the congregate living provisions in Article 11 than it did to the proposed amendment contained in Article 16. Mr. Sorensen was in favor of the amendment proposed by Mr. Weiss. He thought lots could be subdivided to avoid the requirement for a "tract" in Article 11 and, thus, Article 11 could be circumvented. other members thought the practical effect of Article 11 would be that a rezoning would be required to develop a congregate living facility. They noted some technical problems with Mr. Weiss' proposed amendment and thought the maximum limit of 12 persons was arbitrary. 63. Housing Needs Advisory Committee: Acting Chairperson Eleanor Klauminzer, Joel Adler, Eric Clarke, Tina Dirks and William Spencer were present. Mrs. Klauminzer reported that the Committee had discussed proposed rezoning articles and wanted to comment on two in particular. They recommended a favorable recom- mendation for Article 21, the multi -family development off Woburn Street because ' it meets a need for rental housing and, particularly, affordable rental housing. They stressed their recommendation was based on a housing point of view only and did not include the other considerations that have to be taken into account for a rezoning decision. They recommended indefinite postponement for Article 12, the conversion of one family dwellings, because the amendment would not permit the creation of addi- tional housing. Compared with the existing provisions, it would substantially reduce the number of apartment units that could be created. They were concerned about the negative effects of the amendment both on affordable housing and the increase in the supply of rental housing regardless of its price. Mrs. Smith pointed out that a reduction in the minimum lot area or floor area would likely result in a concentration of conversions in the area around Lexington center; the Board had not been able to identify a rational system fot preventing the concen- tration of such conversions in one area in the town. The meeting was adjourned at 11:22 p.m. / C Judith J. U14fig, Clerk 1