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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-25-SPRD-minSpecial Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of May 25, 2022 Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee Members present for the Public Meeting: Jill Hai, Chair; Scott Cooper, Joyce Murphy, Charles Hornig, Richard Perry, Wendy Manz, Betsey Weiss, Heather Hartshorn. Lexington Staff present for the Public Meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Kiruthika Ramakrishnan, Administrative Assistant. Other attendees: David Trietsch. Ms. Hai conducted a roll call to ensure all the members of the SPRD ad-hoc committee and members of staff present could hear and be heard. Ms. Hai chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order at 8:03 am. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. 1. Next steps for by-law development Ms. Kowalski reminded the committee about the general agreement between the members for the size of the unit, being a maximum average size. Mr. Cooper wanted to know the suggestions of OSRD in regards to maximum average size. Mr. Hornig said that OSRD went with a maximum average unit gross floor area of 2625 square feet, as recommended by this committee. Ms. Hartshorn said that she felt that was enormous and her preference would be 1500 square feet livable area. Mr. Perry commented that based on past experiences, he feels 1000 square feet is the absolute minimum livable area for a two bedroom unit. Ms. Kowalski asked his opinion for a one bedroom unit and Mr. Perry said that it should be around 825 square feet. Mr. Trietsch said that a typical two bedroom two bath unit, is between 1200 and 1500 square feet of livable space and agrees with Mr. Perry on the one bedroom unit being a minimum of 800 square feet and he wanted to consider the layouts. Ms. Weiss wanted to factor the effects of the changes brought out by COVID and consider that a lot of people are working from home and need home offices. Ms. Murphy recollected that the committee had discussed the advantages of having one, two and three bedroom units and the flexibility that would provide. Mr. Hornig reminded the committee about the studio unit in 186 Bedford St with a square feet of 420 and one bedroom units from 700 square feet. Ms. Hai reminded the members about the committee’s goal to drive towards smaller house and should lean towards maximum unit size. Mr. Cooper said that, with an absolute maximum, it will help drive down the average and produce smaller units even if there was an average size coupled with a maximum size. Ms. Hai asked if a maximum unit size is prescribed, and also if a maximum density limit is also required. Mr. Hornig said that a maximum number of units should be considered as an equivalent of minimum unit size. Ms. Hai reminded the committee that under the existing Balanced Housing Development, there is a prohibition against stacked units and that the Council on Aging and the Commission on Disability, wanted the committee to promote accessible housing. Ms. Hai also reminded the members that the committee has to come up with an alternative to Conventional Sub Division and also an alternative to OSRD. Ms. Hai also asked the committee to come up with some parameters to help guide some possible designs/ layouts. Mr. Perry suggested a minimum of 400 square feet and a maximum of 2800 square feet. Ms. Kowalski reminded the members that the committee had agreed to a minimum specified by the health and building code, and that the affordability requirements should also be taken into consideration. Mr. Hornig said that no maximum number of units should be specified and the focus should be on the unit size. Mr. Hornig added that OSRD also features the possibility of multi family housing with a moderate gross floor area bonus; and if there were affordable housing units, they have to be subsidized with some form of bonus. Ms. Hai said that the committee has to come up with some parameters to help test out the proposal, by retaining the setbacks, the height limitations and the requirements for emergency access. Mr. Trietsch wanted to go up with Mr. Perry’s suggestion of limiting the gross floor area to 2800 square feet, and then explore how the other factors are impacted by it. Mr. Trietsch also wanted to remove the prohibition on stacked housing. Mr. Cooper wanted the committee to focus on unit size as it is easy for the community to understand and he agreed with Mr. Perry’s recommendation of 2800 GFA. Mr. Cooper said he was in favor of coming up with a maximum average size and wanted it to be 1800 square feet. Ms. Murphy wanted to make sure that there are requirements for the units to be in the affordable unit inventory and the degree of affordability could be one of the incentives. Ms. Hai said that arriving at the numbers is the first important step and then deciding how the affordability component can be incorporated in that and agreed with the numbers proposed by other members of the committee. Ms. Kowalski asked, whether the committee wanted to see some examples of site layouts or building forms, based on the numbers that have been arrived at. Ms. Hai said that for the sites that were identified by the committee at the last meeting, and with the numbers proposed by the members, it would be best to come up with scenarios which would help the committee visualize before presenting it to the community. Mr. Hornig reminded that the maximum total gross floor area was the driving limit for the various developments that came up before the OSRDs and SPRDs. 2. Outreach planning Mr. Trietsch said the idea is to identify friendly groups in town who have common agendas with the committee and approach them and share the committee’s proposal and get their feedback. Mr. Trietsch added that based on their feedback, the committee can make necessary modifications and revisions that seem fit and then go out to a public forum before going to the Town Meeting. Ms. Manz agreed to Mr. Trietsch’s idea and said that she has identified a few constituencies that the committee can address including the Commission on Disability and the Council on Aging. Mr. Trietsch added that the Zoning Cluster Group, Housing Partnership LexHAB, Sustainable Lexington, the development community, the Disability Commission, Historic Commission, Conservation Commission, Planning Board and Select Board are some of the groups that should be reached out to get feedback and to gather support for presenting at the Town Meeting. 3.Approval of Minutes of Meetings held on 03.24.22, 04.07.22 and 05.04.22 The SPRD committee reviewed the draft minutes of meetings held on 03.24.22, 04.07.2022 and 05.04.2022.Ms. Hai moved that the committee approve the minutes of meetings held on 03.24.22, 04.07.22 and 05.44.22, as presented. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 7-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Upcoming Meetings The Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Ad-hoc Committee decided to hold the next meeting on Wednesday June 15th at 8 a.m. Adjourn Ms. Hai moved that the SPRD committee adjourn the meeting of May 25th, 2022. Mr. Perry seconded the motion. The SPRD Committee voted in favor of the motion 7-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 am.