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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-23-LEXHAB-minLexHAB Minutes for Meeting March 23, 2011 Present: R. Burbidge, D. Eagle, W. Hays, G. Howell, W. Kennedy, L. Savage Attending also: Bob Pressman Not present: M. Wood, Pat Nelson Opening Welcome Maryann could not be present; Bill agreed to take the minutes. Bill H. welcomed Bob Burbidge, recently appointed by the Selectmen to fill Don Wilson's place. Minutes for Filinm and Treasurer's Report With a full agenda ahead, it was agreed to postpone these until the April meeting. Learn Farm Update Les reported as follows: The Task Force is still deliberating having come to no conclusions as to what should go onto the 30,000 sq. ft. housing parcel. The Selectmen have ok'd removal or demolition of the old house. The recent meeting with neighbors was spirited; neighbors observed in particular that: - At one point, was the neighborhood not promised that only 1 or 2 units would be built? S units is just too many. Traffic flow on Vine Street is a real problem. Whatever goes in should "fit' into the neighborhood. Les noted that Carter Scott had attended the neighborhood meeting; his comments were very helpful and seemed to be listened to. Aaron Henry made the presentation and did a very good job. Busa Farm Update - Bob Pressman noted as follows: The Task Force report considers 3 sites for housing, using Ken Kreutziger's templates. The report contains nothing for the proponents of a ball field. Al Zabin's minority report is very good and should be read. Bill Kennedy asked whether LexHAB has taken any position yet on the density question. Bill H. said that we have not; the consensus was that we should not yet do so, that there will be time for us to do so if we wish before we go before the Selectmen who have indicated that they will not do anything with the T.F. report until after Town Meeting. Muzzy Windows Update Dave Eagle began by summarizing his report at the February meeting: Anderson Replacement Windows is not the Anderson Company but a franchised installer. A.R.W. installed the wrong windows during Phase One. The Historic Dist. Commission inspected and said it would accept these wrong windows or equivalent to the right one. - Functionally, the wrong and the right are about the same. Dave next reported that: A.R.W. has pulled out of the Muzzy project as too expensive; it will finish Phase One but no more. This leaves the rest of the Muzzy owners high and dry, but Wilmington Builders Supply will take on the remainder of the project at a cost about equal to A.R.W.'s original quotation ($132,000) for the LexHAB units. The consensus was: LexHAB should accept the WBS proposal (LexHAB voted to install windows at the last meeting) but We should first give the owners a chance to request the same terms from WBS and perhaps join us with a combined commitment covering as many owners as wish to do the work now. Marrett Rd./ 142 Emerson Update Bill H. reported that DHCD has finally signed off both as to the restrictions to be contained in the deed and the lease /marketing plan. The tenants who were next -in -line in the lottery pool have been notified and we are scheduling inspection meetings at the units. Metro -West Developers Presentation Jennifer Van Campen outlined the program of Metro -West Collaborative Developers as follows: MWCD is an outgrowth of Watertown Community Housing. There are now 4 participating communities e.g. Watertown, Waltham, Belmont and Lexington. The ultimate "reach" of the Collaborative is to all of the towns in the HOME area, shown on one of Jennifer's slides. MWCD is working to involve more of the area towns. The objective is to provide for each member community a source of (a) planning (b) access to grants and subsidy programs (c) qualification of marketing plans (necessary if units are to be entered on a town's 40 -b list) (d) rent -up and (e) management. Towns may pick and choose among the services that are available. Member towns get some services under the annual membership fee; others are available on various fee -for- service bases. Lexington as a member is entitled to the above or may avail itself of same. The underlying premise is that individual towns are finding it difficult to navigate through the lengthy and complicated subsidy and marketing program requirements; availability of an expert qualified as to these arcane issues (Steve Laferrier) could help fill a large gap. Bob Pressman asked whether there are ever Affordable Housing projects that do not stir the animosity of neighbors. Jennifer answered that sometimes neighborhoods welcome a housing project as opposed to something worse but that usually the objective is to dampen down the rhetoric and let people see that the project will not be detrimental. CPC Request Update Bill H. reported that our grant request for $450,000 of CPA funds on a non - site - specific basis seems at present to be free from opposition and that Bill K. will present the case to Town Meeting in our behalf. Next Meeting The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 19' at 7:30 p.m. Executive Session It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted, each member being separately polled, that the meeting go into Executive Session for consideration of land purchases, not to return to regular Session. Adjourned 9 p.m.