2010-10-27-LEARY-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Meeting Notes AD HOC LEARY PROPERTY COMMUNITY HOUSING TASK FORCE October 27, 2010, 8:30 a.m. Room 207, Town Office Building Present: Bob Bicknell, George Burnell, MarilynFenollosa, Bill Hays, Stephen Keane, Aaron Henry, Wendy Manz, Deb Mauger, Maryann McCall-Taylor, Lester Savage, and Betsey Weiss Ross Speer of Davis Square Architects Minutes Minutes of October 13, 2010 approved. Concept Plans The additional sketches were not yet available. Bob Bicknell said he would ask Sasaki for their rough model of the site. Site Program Bill Hays spoke on behalf of LexHAB to say that they feel the site should have no more than four units. He advised that it does not pay to over pitch at the beginning and then reduce numbers. He felt that anything more than four, is more than the Board of Selectmen or Town Meeting will support. The new construction in a barn motif, rather than the usual LexHAB raised ranch is a good idea, They would like to go as green as possible including the use of solar, recognizing that this may raise the construction costs but aim for no more than a 50% increase in cost. The Nantucket Housing Trust built two new green buildings for affordable housing. One was spray foam and stick construction, while the other was poured concrete. The exterior met design standards. The units were built within the contingency budget of a conventional build. Ross Spears said that green added 4% to a project he was familiar with but expect it to be more in a smaller project. Bill Hays wanted to take up the subject of the farm house. He does not feel it is a good investment for the town. It will be a replica more than anything else. No matter the source of funds, rehab is not appropriate. Wendy Manz said that the CPC is looking at an annual appropriation for ready money for housing. If established, a project would go back to the CPC but not have to go to Town Meeting. Betsey Weiss said she hopes for higher density, six or more units. She wants to work toward a committee recommendation, not have one from the committee and one from LexHAB. Ross Speer recommended six units as a better scale for a barn-like structure. Once there is a commitment to four units, don’t expect neighbors to support more. Bob Bicknell said that the new construction will hold down the rehab costs due to efficiencies of development. Bill Hays said it is wrong to mix the rehab costs with the new construction. While efficiencies are fine, the rehab unit needs to stand on its own. Betsey Weiss said it should not be assumed that the project is LexHAB’s. Lexington is also a member of Metro West Development Collaborative (MWDC) which is a very knowledgeable entity and develops larger affordable housing projects that are more than four units. In addition, the committee needs to speak to the neighbors first, before deciding on anything. Deb Mauger said they should take the time to do it right. There are competing public interests, and priorities need to be set. She was concerned about what would be