2023-09-28-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for September 28, 2023 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jeri Foutter (Chair), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, John Zhao (COA) Absent: Sarah Morrison (LexHAB) Guests: None The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Foutter called the meeting to order at 7:30. The roll was called. 2. Special Residential Development (SRD) Six Units or Less - Payment in Lieu Discussions Ms. Manz pointed out that the Payment-in-Lieu discussion is moot. The Payment-in-Lieu issue was voted on at the Planning Board meeting on Sept. 27. The Planning Board discussed the amount of the Payment-in-Lieu at length and then voted to approve the Payment-in-Lieu at $325/square foot. Ms. Manz noted that communications from Ms. Manz and Ms. Weiss regarding the Payment-in- Lieu message was sent to individuals rather than to the HPB mailing list. No action was requested from the Housing Partnership Board. Mr. Hornig pointed out that this could be considered a violation of the Open Meeting Law. The HPB will be cognizant of this in the future. Mr. Pressman asked, given the lack of applications for Open Space Residential Developments (OSRDs), whether it was likely that SRD applications would be received. Mr. Hornig said that SRDs are more attractive than OSRDs. He added that, based on his information, it is likely that SRD applications will be made to the Planning Board. Ms. Weiss thanked the Planning Board and the Planning Department for their excellent work. 3. Vote on Real Estate Transfer Fee (RETF) Working Group Motion of Support In preparation for votes relative to recommendations on the RETF, Ms. Heitz offered members of the HPB the opportunity to state their view on the RETF. Mr. Hornig stated that he thought there were better ways to provide funds for affordable housing and that he is opposed to recommending that the Select Board endorse the bill. Ms. Thompson expressed her concerns about recommending endorsement of a bill that is not final. Mr. Zhao said that Mr. Linton had provided an overview of the RETF at the Council on Aging earlier in the month. Because of the timing of the overview at the COA and the motion tonight, Mr. Zhao did not have a formal recommendation from the COA on the RETF. His feedback, both from the discussion at the COA and personally is that they are supportive of affordable housing,