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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-30 SB-min Select Board Meeting March 30, 2022 A remote participation meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 via remote meeting services. Ms. Hai, Chair; Mr. Lucente; Vice Chair, Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Barry were present, as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk; and Mina Makarious, Town Counsel. Ms. Hai stated that the meeting was being conducted via Zoom as posted, with the agenda on the Town’s website noting that some members and staff were participating from the Select Board meeting room using the Meeting Owl Pro device. Ms. Hai provided directions to members of the public watching or listening via the Zoom application, regarding the procedure for making a public comment. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Approve and Sign Agreements for Moderate Income Housing and Golden Avenue Buffer Restrictive Covenants - Waterstone and Bridges at Lexington Liz Rust, Director of the Regional Housing Services Office, explained that some of the units in the Waterstone Projects are moderate-income units that are part of the Town’s Moderate Income Housing Program. These documents are being presented to the Board for review and approval. In response to a question from Mr. Sandeen, Ms. Rust explained that there are 21 affordable housing units included in this project. These units are part of the traditional LIP (Local Initiative Program) process through DHCD. This is still in final review with DHCD and the project team and should be moving forward within the next couple of months. The moderate housing units will be leased through a waitlist process. Applications will be ready for these units shortly. This process is being run through the development team, Epic Senior Living. This information will be posted to the Town’s website. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, by roll call, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Moderate Income Housing Agreement between the Town of Lexington and Lexington Senior Housing Owner LLC for 53 & 55 Watertown Street (Waterstone); and to approve the Moderate Income Housing Agreement between the Town of Lexington and Lexington Senior Housing Owner LLC for 56 Watertown Street (Bridges); and to approve the Restrictive Covenant between Town of Lexington and Lexington Senior Housing Owner LLC to establish a vegetated buffer area in the vicinity of Golden Avenue. DOCUMENTS: Bridges Moderate Income Housing Agreement, Waterstone Moderate Income Housing Agreement, Restrictive Covenant - Golden Avenue, Exhibit A - Golden Avenue Buffer Area Plan 2. 2022 Annual Town Meeting & Special Town Meetings 2022-1/2022-2 Article Discussion/Positions Ms. Hai noted that the correct amount for Article 10e is $680,000. The Board discussed a potential amendment to Article 12a that a Town Meeting Member might offer, to not allow for Hartwell Innovation Park branding signage. Mr. Malloy suggested that the Board not support this amendment, as the originally proposed article is part of a marketing effort for economic development. Ms. Hai noted that she would ask the Moderator if this amendment was submitted on time to be considered. Ms. Hai noted that Article 25 will still be its own item for discussion at Town Meeting but will likely be IP’d. The Board discussed Article 26. Mr. Malloy recommended that the Board support this article. The Board agreed unanimously to support this article. Regarding Article 27, Ms. Hai noted that the Board received a memo this morning with a vote of support from the Waste Reduction Task Force, which does include several members of staff, including the Department of Public Works Director, the Environmental Services Superintendent, and the Sustainability & Resilience Officer. The motion has been changed to remove the funding request and the mandate language; thus, it is now a non-binding resolution. Mr. Malloy noted that no person, body, committee, or board has been charged with the responsibility to oversee this project over the next year. He does not believe that this resolution will change human nature, in regard to those who do not already recycle, compost, etc. He would like to see the proponents of this Article work with staff to determine effective ways to make changes and reduce solid waste. In response to a question from Ms. Barry, Mr. Pato noted that the Waste Reduction Task Force was formed at the request of the Select Board approximately 18 months ago. The working group is made up of staff and residents, with a goal to improve diversion of food waste and reduce overall waste in Town. Ms. Barry noted that four members of staff have voted in support of this article. Mr. Malloy stated that he has not yet had time to discuss this further with staff. Ms. Hai stated that, regarding this article and Article 31, she continues to be concerned that the Board is acting to supplant the judgment of the Resilience & Sustainability Officer, and also the intended product of the Climate Action Plan, which is designed to “lay out an implementable roadmap for Lexington’s highest priority climate actions for the next five years.” Mr. Sandeen noted that the Sustainable Action Plan, adopted by the Board in 2018, calls for the development of a Zero Waste Plan. He sees Article 27’s call to develop a Zero Waste Plan as consistent with that goal. Mr. Sandeen recalled that the Town Manager had previously stated that creating a Zero Waste Plan was not in scope for the proposed Climate Action Plan. Mr. Sandeen also expressed support for the Waste Reduction Task Force’s recommendation. Mr. Malloy asked why this is coming in as a petitioned article, instead of through the normal channel of the Waste Reduction Task Force. Ms. Barry stated that she would also like to see an analysis of how this would impact staff time and resources. It was noted that the previously discussed potential amendment to Article 12A would be allowed at Town Meeting. The Board reviewed its positions on the potential amendment: 3 against, 2 waits. Regarding Article 31, the language of this motion was changed today. Mr. Malloy expressed concern regarding this article being ready for Town Meeting. Mr. Sandeen noted this effort was initiated by Town staff, that the previous Sustainability Director, Stella Carr, brought this idea to Sustainable Lexington and asked them to support it. Sustainable Lexington was supporting her in that effort by continuing to move forward this item. Mr. Malloy noted that when Stella Carr left, she made it very clear to Sustainable Lexington that this proposal was not ready to move forward. Regarding Article 39, Mr. Malloy explained that the proponent has carried out traffic studies to compare multifamily housing with a 200-unit housing development, versus the life science building versus the athletic club previously on this site. The scaled back life science building was proposed to be 165,000 s.f., four-stories with mechanical on the roof, and a 44’ tall garage. A 200-unit multifamily housing project would be built on a podium, with parking underneath, 15’ tall and five-stories, 11’ each, for a total of a 70’ tall structure throughout the entire stretch of the project. In terms of future tax revenues, approximately $1.8M is estimated for the life science structure and approximately $670,000 for a multifamily structure. A multifamily structure could also be estimated to add approximately 138 students/year to the school system. Mr. Malloy recommended that the Board support this Article because traffic created by either a life science or multifamily use would be less than from the historical use as a sports club; a multifamily structure would have greater massing than the proposed life science building; a multifamily project would also require rezoning or a PSDUP Town Meeting Article; estimated future property tax revenues from a multifamily project would be 37% of the amount from the proposed life science building, the contribution to the Capital Stabilization Fund would be 29%, and loss of property taxes over a 10-year period would be estimated to be $11.2M; and a multifamily project would have additional municipal and school costs associated with it. Mr. Sandeen asked if the entire acreage, including easements, of the 475 Bedford Street lot could count toward the MBTA Multi-Family Zoning requirement. Mr. Malloy stated that he would look into this. Mr. Pato stated that he is a little cautious about putting too much weight on the educational burden, etc., items. The Town will be looking to have this type of denser development over the next couple of years, and, thus, those costs are coming. These numbers need to be looked at from a planning perspective. Mr. Lucente stated that the neighborhood has been vocal about its objections to this project. He believes they will be vocal regarding any proposed project other than single-family housing. He noted that the Town needs to determine what the best use for this area is. Mr. Sandeen said he would be very interested in hearing Town Meeting’s perspective regarding the alternative 200-unit, multi-family development the Town Manager mentioned in his memo. DOCUMENTS: 2022ATM, STM 2022-1, STM 2022-1 Select Board Position Working Document, Proposed Town Meeting Schedule - as of 3-29-2022, Art 27 revised motion 3/29 ADOURN Upon a motion duly made and seconded, by roll call, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:08 p.m. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary