Leary Property Community Housing Task Force 2011-05-25-LEARY-rpt (FINAL)

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LEARY PROPERTY COMMUNITY HOUSING TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT MAY 25, 2011 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Over a period of months the Task Force met some sixteen times and heard numerous presentations by developers and others, and came to the conclusion that multiple units were the best solution to meet the various goals of the Town for this site. The Task Force has reduced its initial suggestion of up to eight units to up to six in response to residents' input. It also understands that the nature of the buildings to be built on this site must be in harmony with the character of the neighborhood and should reference the existing farm house,for which the neighbors feel genuine affection. The Task Force recommends that the developer, whether LexHAB or not, provide more information to residents and continue to work toward a consensus solution that offers reasonable satisfaction to all stakeholders. The Task Force held two community meetings, mailing notice to all residents of the Vine Street area. The initial meeting of November 16 was held toward the beginning of the Task Force's work when no specific proposal had been developed, and the second was held March 17,when the Task Force put forward its initial proposal of eight units. The meetings were well attended and residents have made their concerns clear. While there seems to be a reluctant acceptance of the need to remove the farm house and a general acceptance of two new units on the property, residents are still unhappy with an unaccustomed level of density on their street, and concerned about traffic. It is expected that as the plans for the property are developed, there will continue to be meetings with the neighbors. NOVEMBER 16, 2010: TASK FORCE COMMUNITY MEETING #1 This meeting was attended by the Task Force and approximately two dozen Vine Street area residents. For most of the attending residents, this was the first chance to hear about Town planning for the portion of the Leary property designated for housing. The Task Force presented a summary of the acquisition and funding of the property and the intent to develop affordable housing on the edge of the property abutting Vine Street. The Task Force did not put forward any specific design plan or number of units to be developed but concentrated on receiving input from the neighbors. A number of attendees stated that they wished the existing farm house to remain in place, and that they were concerned about any substantial density of development on the property because of increased traffic and lack of integration with the existing neighborhood. A few also voiced their concerns about how storm water runoff would be handled. It was generally stated that the neighbors did not object to affordable housing per se, as long as their practical concerns were addressed. MARCH 17, 2011: TASK FORCE COMMUNITY MEETING #2 This meeting was attended by the Task Force and approximately twelve Vine Street area residents. At this meeting the Task Force suggested that six to eight affordable units could be accommodated on the Leary housing parcel. They offered illustrations of existing housing developments in other towns that they believed had incorporated multiple small units in attractive buildings in the style of existing neighborhood architecture. The Task Force reported that it had advised the Board of Selectmen to seek Community Preservation Act funding for initial site planning and design work and for basic stabilization of the existing farm house while a decision was made as to whether to attempt to preserve it. The Selectmen had forwarded the application for funding for the site and design work, but declined to seek funding for stabilization of the house. After review of a study of the house's condition, the Selectmen felt that preserving it would be costly and result in so much replacement as to constitute a replica rather than a renovated building. They also felt that the expenditure on the house as an affordable unit would be out of line with the cost of building new units. 12