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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-14-HPB-min Meeting Minutes for July 14, 2022 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jeri Foutter (Chair), Mary Haskell, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Bob Pressman, Maureen Rynn (LHA liaison), Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, John Zhao (COA) Guests: Abby McCabe (Town Planning Director), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB Executive Director) Absent: Bob Burbidge (LexHAB liaison), Joe Pato (Select Board liaison) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Foutter called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and the roll was called. 2. MBTA Communities Action Plan Ms. McCabe provided an overview of the zoning provisions of the “MBTA Communities” act. In December 2021, the DHCD released draft guidelines to determine compliance with the act. The act was passed to help address the housing shortage within the Commonwealth, with a goal of producing more housing near transportation. Zoning to comply with the act must be adopted by December 31, 2023. Informational sessions will be held from the fall into the winter. The Town’s obligation is to provide zoning that meets the requirements of the Act. The Town has no obligation to create the housing. There is no requirement for provision in the zoning for affordable housing, though the zoning may contain a requirement for affordable housing. The HPB is in favor of adding an affordable housing component to the zoning to implement the MBTA Communities act. 3. Land Acquisition Subcommittee Ms. Weiss reported that the proposal is in progress. Ms. Weiss sent the draft to Ms. Kowalski who provided her feedback. Ms. Weiss is updating the draft to reflect the comments. 4. Affordable Housing Resources Subcommittee Ms. Manz reported that Mr. Malloy and Ms. Kowalski will be available at the end of the month. The subcommittee has a tentative date for meeting with Mr. Malloy and Ms. Kowalski to request the appointment of a housing officer. 5. HPB Charge & Membership Subcommittee Ms. Cohen reported that the subcommittee has agreed on the proposed changes to the charge other than a definition of affordable housing. Ms. Cohen will propose a new meeting date to resolve the issue after the HPB has clarity as to whether the state legislature extends the timeframe for remote meetings and, if not, the impact to the HPB of required in-person meetings. 6. Board Member Updates Planning Board: Mr. Hornig: the Planning Board had the first walkthrough of the draft Housing Section of the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Board will be updating the draft based on the comments received prior to and at the walkthrough and over the next few weeks. The HPB supported the idea of a joint Planning Board and Housing Partnership Board meeting to review the Housing component. The HPB will discuss the Housing component at an HPB meeting. SPRD: Ms. Weiss reported that the SPRD had a workshop, the intent of which was to help the SPRD visualize how the new bylaw might be implemented. LexHAB: Ms. Morrison: at last night’s Board meeting, the Board moved forward with the next steps to having LexHAB become a 501(3)(c) organization. LexHAB will need to submit a home rule petition to the state legislature to make this change. This is usually a two-year process. Town meeting must vote to approve the home rule petition. COA: Mr. Zhao: there was no Board meeting in July and therefore no updates. Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee (AHTSC): The AHTSC presented to the Select Board on Monday, June 27. The presentation went well and received both good questions and support. The AHTSC is revising the presentation and the FAQs based on the SB meeting. Arlington has recently created an Affordable Housing Trust. Lexington will seek to leverage the Arlington AHT experience, also survey by the AHT to get input from the Arlington residents. The AHTSC met with the CEC and the CPC. The AHTSC is working on answering the questions raised at the meeting. 7. New Business Mr. Pressman: the DEI officer gave her yearly report. She also said she will be leaving on July 20. 8. Approval of Minutes Ms. Weiss moved approval of the minutes of June 9, 2022; Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 9. Set Next Meeting The next meeting will be August 25th depending on the availability of the Select Board Meeting room (which has the appropriate AV equipment) or of the Community Center. Ms. Foutter will contact the Community Center and the Town Manager’s office to determine the availability of the meeting rooms. A quorum of meeting members volunteered to meet in person. If the legislature does extend the remote meeting law, the HPB will meet remotely. 10. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 pm.