HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-23-AHTSC-min RECEIVED
2022 22 ' air, SLLSS morn
The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee (ad hoc) "T W'N CLERK
Meeting Minutes of February 23, 2022 LEXINGTON
Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee members present for the public meeting:
Gretchen Reisig, Chair; Betsey Weiss, Kathryn Roy, Jeri Foutter, Linda Prosnitz, Carol
Marine, Tara Mizrahi.
Lexington Staff present for the public meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for
Development; Kiruthika Ramakrishnan, Administrative Assistant.
Non-voting liaison of the Select Board: Mark Sandeen
Other Attendees: Shelly Goehring from Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Ms. Reisig conducted a roll call to ensure that all the members of the Affordable Housing
Trust Study Committee (ad hoc) and members of staff present could hear and be heard.
Ms. Reisig chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.
The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing.
1. Approval of The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee Minutes of
01/26/2022
The Affordable Housing Trust Study committee reviewed the draft minutes of the meeting
held on 01/26/2022.
Ms. Roy moved that the Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee vote to approve the
minutes of the meeting held on 01/26/2022, as presented. Ms. Foutter seconded the
motion. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion 6-0-0
(Roll Call VOTE, MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY)
2. Implication of MBTA Rule
Ms. Kowalski gave a brief overview of the MBTA rule. She explained how with the signing of
the economic development bill by the Governor of Massachusetts, in December 2020, a few
zoning regulations were changed. One of the changes being, that communities with MBTA
service will be required to adopt a by right zoning district to allow multifamily housing—
apartments or condos. In Lexington right now, you cannot build multifamily housing. In
order to be in compliance with the law, the Select Board has to be briefed on the MBTA
zoning before May 2nd, which has been tentatively scheduled to be on March 91". Ms.
Kowalski added that there is also a comment period for the draft guidelines which closes on
March 31St. For communities that do not comply with the guidelines, some funding sources
would no longer be available. It would require a zoning district with a minimum of 50 acres,
fifteen units per acre, and for Lexington 2,462 units have to be zoned for by right, in
accordance with zoning regulations and within % mile access to MBTA bus stop. It is a
zoning regulation, not a housing production plan.
There are 3 sources of grants if we comply with the MBTA guidelines. We have received
MassWorks grants in the past.
3. Address by Guest Speaker Shelly Goehring
Ms. Goehring's presentation was shared. Ms. Goehring gave a brief overview of the
Massachusetts Housing Partnership and explained that their mission was to increase the
number of affordable housing units in Massachusetts. Ms. Goehring focuses on helping
communities establish trusts for affordable housing. Ms. Goehring explained what
constitutes a housing trust, the operations and best practices and some of the eligible
activities for a housing trust in Lexington. Ms. Goehring went over the entire process of
creating a Trust and explained what activities an Affordable Housing Trust (Trust) can focus
on.
Ms. Goehring then went on to say that a minimum of five trustees are required by the
statute and that it is mandatory for a Select Board member to be one of the trustees; a
trustee is appointed by the Select Board and have a term of two years and the trustees are
public agents. Ms. Goehring talked about the Board's powers as outlined by the statute and
explained that the powers can be modified by Trusts based on their requirements. Ms.
Goehring went over a few examples of Affordable Housing Trusts created by different cities.
Ms. Goehring listed money, vision, leadership and transparency as some of the key factors
to succeed. Ms. Goehring gave a list of the types of funds that can be used by an Affordable
Housing Trust. CPA is the most common source; not every community has it.
• Swampscott—Trust determines the amount of in lieu of payments and it is directed
to the Trust
• Brookline and Truro transferred municipal free cash funds to the Trust.
• Chelsea is transferring property to the Trust
• In Norfolk, a developer doing a friendly 40B that $10k/market rate would be
transferred to the Trust.
• Medfield doesn't have an CPC but they bonded $1M against the municipal budget
and designated that to the Trust.
• Orleans passed a $275k tax override to support the Trust. Because of the guaranteed
income, they were able to get a loan.
Ms. Goehring encouraged the committee to start by determining their needs, setting
priorities and creating benchmarks based on the needs they want to focus on. Ms. Goehring
suggested the committee to create a mission statement and to involve the community in
the process, so that the community understands the purpose of the Trust. Ms. Goehring
said that the roles of the different housing entities should be clearly defined from the
beginning to facilitate better outcomes. Ms. Goehring said it always helps to determine the
operating approach and explained the different approaches taken by different
communities. Ms. Goehring went on to explain the various types of activities Affordable
Housing Trusts can be engaged in, based on examples from various communities. Ms.
Goehring asked the committee to consider the local infrastructure and, the needs and
resources of the community, and to develop realistic goals based on those needs.
4. Follow up on Action Items
Ms. Mizrahi discussed the suggestions of the committee members with regards to the goals
of the trust: the ability to purchase land, the ability to purchase smaller homes that come to
the market, and the ability to support more highly leveraged affordable housing projects.
Discussion ensued.
Ms. Kowalski wanted the committee to look at the list of the sixteen powers in the statute
and, identify the powers that corelate with the goals that the committee wants to achieve
and decide on the powers of the committee. Ms. Kowalski offered to share the Declaration
of Trusts and bylaws from other communities for reference.There was general agreement.
Adjourn
Ms. Roy moved that The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee adjourn the meeting
held on February 23, 2022. Ms. Mizrahi seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 5:59 pm.