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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-25-LEXHAB-min LexHAB Minutes of Meeting held on April 25,2012 at 7 30 AM At the LexHAB offices All members were present together with Pat Nelson Beth Rust,Carter Scott and Aaron Henryjoined the meeting at 7 50 AM 1 The minutes of the March meeting were accepted without change 2 Financial Statements Gerry H pointed out that (a)The expenditure for Garfield Street shown on page one mostly covered painting in the units Other work has been capitalized (b)The figure for net income on the last page does not tell the whole story,to the$77,500 90 shown here,one must factor m both the Garfield Street operating loss of$4,441 20 and the expenses for general administration($22,298 47)to amve at the true net income of$50,761 56 shown at the bottom of the one-page summary 3 Busa Property Dave,Bill H and Lester updated the status of the Busa Farm project Bill K reported that he had reviewed a new plan for lower Lowell Street prepared by Carl Oldenberg(?),providing for 4 umts in one building Bill suggested that it would be helpful if LexHAB could take a position on this proposal During discussion,members observed that -The Town needs more than 4 units on this site,opportunity to make a sub- stantial contribution to the Town's inventory does not occur this often -The Carter Scott plan does not impinge upon the plans of the farm group -The building proposed by Mr Oldenberg has great mass and would,if constructed,characterize the entire site as one for affordable housing -Even though,under the Oldenberg plan,the first thing anyone entering Lexington from Arlington would see would be the 250 foot open vista over the fields,the 4-unit building next encountered would immediately change the Gateway message from open space to concentrated(afford- able?)housing -Carter Scott's plan fits very well on the site and is consistent with the structures in the neighborhood It was the unanimous position of the Board that LexHAB continue to support the plan for 8 units and not support the Oldenberg alternative 4 Fairview Purchase Bill H summarized the state of our planning for Fairview,indicating that the next question to be decided is the number of units of housing we are going to ask for Carter Scott has produced a plan calling for 4 new umts The plan was reviewed During comment,the following points were made -The proposal calls for two 2-unit buildings,one having the appearance of a barn,these buildings fit nicely with houses in the neighborhood, and offer maximum efficiency The fit is superb -A 3-unit building would have to be sprmklered and would also present a greater mass -Only one or two abutters will be directly affected by our new buildings, on two sides,there are no houses,the property being owned either by the Town as conservation acreage or by the U S Park Service -The Town needs more than 2 units on this site,an opportunity as good as this has not emerged m LexHAB's entire life span It was the unanimous consensus that LexHAB proceed with the Carter Scott plan 5 Town Meeting Update Bill K reported that, efforts to secure support from the CEC having failed,we held to our original request that$450,000 of CPA funds be set aside for LexHAB for future purchase or construction of one or more umts of housing of any kind, wherever LexHAB may propose The moderator and Town Counsel determined that since the proposal was for the purchase of real estate,a two-thirds vote would be required The request passed by a very few votes We do not know whether a two-thirds vote will now be required m connection with all future CPA requests 6 Wilson Road Dave reported that much of the work at Wilson Road has been completed,paving will be done next week,we should be able to show the house to prospective tenants in two weeks Maryann will check to see who, from the non-local pool of applicants,will be next in line and arrange to show the unit to the first interested apphcant Dave indicated that the rehab of the property will probably exceed our initial estimate but not by a significant amount 7 Wright Farm Bill K noted that the Selectmen are considering the purchase(using CPA)funds of the major acreage in the Wright Farm for open space purposes The owners will continue to occupy the house and perhaps the barn,with an agreement to sell the occupied premises later on the the Town under an option that the Town will hold The Selectmen would like to know whether LexHAB would support this proposal, especially if there were to be an understanding that the option property would be committed to affordable housing when the option is exercised Bill circulated a proposed letter which was unanimously approved 8.Next Meeting The next meeting will be on May 23rd at 7 AM(note not at 7 30) 9 Executive Session It was then voted,each member voting individually in favor,to move into Executive Session for the purpose of tenant selection,without return to open Session thereafter The open meeting ended at 9 AM Respectfully submitted Wilham C Hays Secretary pro temp