Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-29-HPB-min Meeting Minutes for September 29, 2022 Attendees: Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jeri Foutter (Chair), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Bob Pressman, Maureen Rynn (LHA liaison), Betsey Weiss Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB liaison), Joe Pato (Select Board liaison), Melanie Thompson, John Zhao (COA) 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 7:00 p.m. and the roll was called. 2. OSRD, Comprehensive Plan, MBTA Communities Updates The PB approved volume 1 of the Comprehensive Plan. The approval of volume 1 will provide the Planning Board and planning staff the time to engage in other important areas including Open Space Residential Development (OSRD) zoning and MBTA community housing zoning. The OSRD zoning will be discussed at the next meeting of the Planning Board. The Planning Board has a goal of adopting the OSRD zoning on Oct. 12. The Planning Board will also start the MBTA Community Housing discussion. The MBTA Community Housing law is still missing some technical guidance from the state, but there is sufficient information to enable the Planning Board to begin the “big picture” questions, for example, is the focus on the Center or on other parts of Town. The Planning Board will also seek to engage the public and continue to solicit public input. 3. Land Acquisition Subcommittee and minutes Ms. Kowalski has provided some comments on the draft Land Acquisition Policy. The comments led to a table being included in the draft Land Acquisition Policy. The plan is to review the draft policy at the next HPB meeting. If the HPB approves the draft, the next step will be to reach out to relevant committees for their input. Mr. Linton moved the minutes of the Land Acquisition Committee meeting and Mr. Pressman seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Foutter, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Betsey Weiss Voting against: none Abstaining: none 4. Housing Resource Subcommittee minutes Ms. Manz moved approval of the Housing Resource Subcommittee minutes and Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Foutter, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss Voting against: none Abstaining: none 5. HPB Charge Subcommittee & Membership Ms. Cohen presented the draft charge. The draft was discussed by the HPB. The HPB suggested that the subcommittee working group ensure that the charge is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan wording on housing. The working group will review the comp plan and the proposed charge to ensure that other sections of the comprehensive plan and charge are consistent. Ms. Weiss moved approval of the HPB Charge Subcommittee minutes and Mr. Press seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Foutter, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss Voting against: none Abstaining: none 6. Working Group on Accomplishments Ms. Weiss volunteered to work on compiling a list of HPB accomplishments. Ms. Weiss will request the assistance of up to 3 HPB members for this work. 7. Board Member Updates Planning Board: A site sensitive development plan is in progress. SPRD: Ms. Weiss is working with Ms. Kowalski , Mr. Treitsch, and Wendy Manz on an SPRD slide deck presentation to the Select Board and to the public. Ms. Weiss presented a summary of the SPRD as it regards affordable housing. LexHab: Ms. Morrison was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Mr. Pressman reported his understanding that there will be a meeting of LexHAB next week. LexHAB is seeking to obtain support at Special Town Meeting for LexHAB’s warrant article to change the form of organization to a non-profit. While Ms. Morrison was unable to attend this meeting, she sent mail that said asking to present the organizational change warrant article to the HPB and to ask the HPB for its support of the article. Ms. Manz noted that Ms. Morrison will be presenting at the League of Women Voters October meeting and to the Select Board on Oct 17. COA: The Select Board appointed Mark Sandeen as the liaison to the COA. Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee (AHTSC): The AHTSC has met twice since the August HPB meeting. At the Sept. 14 meeting, the AHTSC voted to approve the draft bylaw and the FAQ. The AHTSC also approved the slide deck presentation, the FAQ and the bylaws. The AHTSC will present at the October LWV meeting on the AHT. Ms. Foutter said that there was discussion at the AHTSC as to was whether to use assessed value or the median sales price as the basis on which to set the trust threshold borrowing level. This will apply to single family detached homes, not condos or multi-family housing. LHA: Ms. Rynn: Caileen Foley has submitted her resignation as the Exec Director of the Board. Ms. Foley has accepted a position at the Chelmsford Housing Authority. The search subcommittee is conducting a search for a permanent executive director. Ms. Rynn thanked Ms. Foutter for the Cambridge Savings Bank donation to the LHA residents of 420 gift cards of $20 each. 8. New Business Mr. Linton has limited access to the Town Zoom. If you need a Zoom link, please give Mr. Linton as much advance notice as possible. 9. Minutes The HPB reviewed edits provided to Ms. Cohen on the draft minutes for August 25, 2022. Ms. Weiss moved approval of the minutes and Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Foutter, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss Voting against: none Abstaining: none Ms. Foutter had sent a draft of the Annual Town Meeting report. The report has a 350-word limit. Ms. Weiss moved approval of the report. Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Ms. Foutter will submit the HPB report to the Town. 10. Set Next Meeting The next meeting will be October 20 at 7:00 by Zoom. 11. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Foutter, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss Voting against: none Abstaining: none The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.