2020-01-08-PB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 8, 2020 Present: Robert Creech, Chair; Charles Hornig, Vice-Chair; Robert Peters; Ginna Johnson; and Richard Canale (Remote Participation). Also present was Amanda Loomis, Planning Director; Eve Tapper; and Lori Kaufman, Department Assistant Robert Creech, Chair, read the agenda into the record, introduced members of the Planning Board and Planning Department Staff. He also welcomed Ms. Loomis as Lexington’s new Planning Director. Mr Creech called the meeting to order at 7:01pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Mr. Creech stated that Richard Canale was participating via remote participation. Board Administration 1. Affordable Housing - Moderate Income Criteria Present for the Discussion: Liz Rust, Director of Regional Housing Services Offices Ms. Rust presented the concept of moderate income housing and a review of the draft Town of Lexington, Eligibility Criteria for Moderate Income Units regulations. Ms. Rust noted that such document was based on DHCD and the Town of Concord’s moderate income housing regulations. Robert Creech, Chair, mentioned that he and Mr. Peters had reviewed the document in August/September of last year and had only minor questions at that time that were resolved by Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager of Land Use, Health, and Development. Mr. Creech requested comments from members of the Planning Board. The following comments were provided.  Charles Hornig provided a brief review of the moderate income housing relative to the Lexington Zoning By-Law, which would require the need to define moderate income housing in the definition. Mr. Hornig requested clarification regarding the differences from DHCD regulations and the Concord regulations, specifically regarding assets limits and household size. Mr. Hornig stated his worry for the underutilization of households if left as drafted relevant to household size.  Richard Canale requested clarification regarding the eighty (80) to one-hundred and fifty (150) percent, and what a developer can build and sell a moderate income unit for. Mr. Canale further requested clarification as to how the moderate income housing regulations work in Concord. Ms. Rust provide a review of the Area Median Income (AMI) and a review of the calculation of the sale price for the affordable units. Members of the Planning Board briefly discussed the proposed moderate income housing range. A majority of the members did not want to see the maximum be one-hundred and fifty (150) percent. Planning Board member comments continued.  Robert Peters requested clarification regarding deed restrictions, in addition to the enforcement of a deed restriction. Ms. Rust provided an overview of the ongoing monitoring process for such efforts.