Lexington Housing Partnership Report, March 2005

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Lexington Housing Partnership March 2005 Annual Report to Town Meeting by the Lexington Housing Partnership During the year the Partnership was active in promoting and supporting affordable housing activities in town. Open meetings were held monthly and many Planning Board, State sponsored seminars and Selectmen meetings were attended to keep abreast of and support housing issues. In summary, the Lexington Housing Partnership: • Supported the Planning Staff in coordinating with the WestMetro HOME Consortium and producing the Consolidated Housing Strategy and Plan for FY 2006-2010, a necessary action to be eligible to receive federal funds to support affordable housing initiatives beginning in FY2006. • Formed the Lexington Housing Foundation, a non-profit tax exempt housing trust, to receive funds and apply them in support of affordable housing objectives. • Worked with a consultant and the Planning Staff to produce bylaw changes to simplify the rules for accessory dwellings, clarify adaptive reuse rules for existing non-residential structures and to adopt the Town s affordable housing guidelines. • Provided support for the 2004 warrant articles to provide 97 affordable rental units at MetState and the LexHAB Rangeway project for a two family affordable rental unit. • Performed independent analyses of various methods that could produce more affordable housing in Lexington. These studies are ongoing and we hope they will produce initiatives that can be taken once funds are available to support them. • Promoted awareness of the need for affordable housing in Lexington through posters, presentations and the print media. • Prepared the Warrant Articles for this year s Town Meeting to consider adopting the Community Preservation Act (CPA). During this 2005 Town Meeting the Housing Partnership plans to present the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Warrant Articles 7&8 and to provide our position on other articles which have a potential impact on affordable housing in Lexington. Bob Bicknell, Chair for the Partnership