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

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specifically including affordable housing for seniors. They are also concerned about the impact of the fee on seniors who may have to move into assisted living. Mr. Pressman said that we should consider that houses in Lexington have a high value because of the school system, recreation services, and the generally high quality of services from the Town. Mr. Pressman offered his opinion that it would be reasonable for sellers to have a modest payment when they sell their house to give back to the Town for the high value of their home due to the services provided.. Mr. Pressman also responded to the comment from Mr. Hornig that there are better ways to provide funding by noting that there will likely only be limited CPA funds for affordable housing. Ms. Manz said that since this provides an opportunity for affordable housing and we could determine later if and how to implement that she is in support of the HPB endorsing the RETF to the Select Board. Ms. Heitz supports both motions. Lexington should consider all options for raising money for affordable housing. Housing in Lexington should be available to people with a range of incomes, which is not possible now. The HPB should recommend to the Select Board that they endorse the RETF bill. This will help the bill make progress in the state legislature. If changes are made to the bill that are inconsistent with Town values, the endorsement can be revoked. Staying on the sidelines will do nothing for affordable housing. Ms. Heitz endorses the recommendation that the Select Board create a special committee to study if and how a transfer fee will be implemented. Ms. Hai had previously asked about the interplay between the surcharge home rule petitions and the RETF bill. The second motion, which recommends that a study committee be established to study the possibly implementation of the RETF would be the appropriate vehicle for understanding the interplay. This addresses the concern that Ms. Hai had expressed earlier. Mr. Pressman pointed out that, based on a realtor’s list in the Lexington Times of the 139 Lexington home sales in the first 6 months of the year, the median selling price was $1,775,000. A senior exemption ought to take into consideration the resources that the senior citizen possesses. Mr. Hornig responded to Mr. Pressman’s comments by saying that, rather than asking the limited set of property owners who sell their property in any given time period to pay for the benefits received, the Town should charge all property owners for that benefit. Mr. Hornig also noted that if the Town wants to build more affordable housing, that the Town should allocate additional money from Town funds to that cause. The Town could also allocate land that was gifted to it for affordable housing. Ms. Heitz moved the following motion: to recommend that the Select Board endorse passage of the statewide Real Estate Transfer Fee Bill (H.2747/S.1771), an act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing. Ms. Cohen seconded the motion.