HomeMy WebLinkAboutMuzzey School Conversion Committee charge, 1982 CHARGE TO THE MUZZEY SCHOOL CONVERSION COMMITTEE" •
Tne Committee shall prepare and review specifications for receipt of proposals for the
3ose of sale, transfer, lease or other appropriate use of the Muzzey Junior High
School within the following guidelines:
1. Only non-commercial use will be considered.
2. The top priority in the disposition of this property is to provide housing for
the Town of a type that is needed but not currently available. Naturally, proposals
offering a financial return as well as meeting all other criteria for development
will receive more favorable consideration.
3. The following types of housing would be considered appropriate for this development:
Publicly assisted housing for the elderly
Non-assisted ''affordable" housing for the elderly
Publicly assisted congregate housing for the elderly
Non-assisted "affordable" or market rate congregate housing for the elderly
Affordable "starter" units for young couples
"Affordable" units for one-parent households
Publicly assisted housing for families
Non-assisted "affordable" housing for families
Preferably the "affordable" units in the building would conform to the MPGA price
and income guidelines for its first home buyer program as follows:
Size of Family Maximum Annual Income
One $25,500
Two 28,500
Three 30,000
Four 31,500
Some market rate units may be provided if necessary to lower the cost of the majority of
units.
4_ A mix of residential uses, i.e., congregate, starter units, elderly and family use
would be acceptable and encouraged where feasible.
5. The Town would entertain either cooperative, condominium or rental units provided there
are acceptahle guarantees in deeds, mortgages or leases that assure the Town that all
"affordable" units will remain in the "affordable" category referenced above.
6. Management control of either congregate, coop, condo or rental development must be
so structured that the Town remains protected and the development in the building
continues to meet Town expectations as the units are acquired by successive "generations"
of occupants
7. To the extent possible under the law preference for the facilities provided in the
building will be given to people involved with Lexington through current or prior
residence, current employment or other significant and demonstrable connection.
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8. The Committee will encourage developers to consider alternative ownership and
financing mechanisms such as limited equity cotidomjniums, cooperative association,
non-Profit sponsorship and MHFA financing in order to achieve these goals.
9. There will be no increase in the size of the building, but rather we would
encourage a decrease in size.
10. Theentire building may be razed --- but any new development will be judged on its
responsiveness to the priorities set forth above.
11_ Long-term leasing of the land should be encouraged.
12.. The soccer field will remain open and in Town ownership.
13. All proposals must be compatible with the residential character of the neighborhood..
14_ Studies have been conducted indicating the need for an enlarged Senior Center to
provide increased services and activities for an expanding Senior population. The
Council on Aging has expressed its satisfaction with a portion of the Muzzey School
as a location for such a center. There has however, been no Town or Town Meeting
consensus on preferred location, breadth of programs, acceptance of increased costs
etc.
A Senior Center may be included in plans if developers think such a center would
enhance or be compatible with their proposed residential plans. A layout acceptable
to the Council on Aging calling for conversion of 8,000 sq. ft. of the ground level
the school already exists, and may be made available to developers who request it..
Because the Town Meeting has expressed a wish to vote on any Senior Center as a
separate item, if one is proposed it must be presented as an option; and an alternate
plan must also be prepared showing the proposed development without such a center.
In such a case, both plans would be presented to the Town Meeting. The inclusion of
a Senior Center is not to be a deciding facting in judging proposals. Rather, a
developer' s responsiveness to the housing priorities set forth in the Planning Board
report will take precedence.
15. Recommendations for use of such facility shall be submitted no later than December 13,
.1982, in preparation for a Special Town Meeting in January.Appropriate hearing dates shall be coordinated with the Board of Selectmen, Planning
iBoa..,=d, and other appropriate agencies. All appropriate hearings shall be completed
before the Special Town Meeting.
Ado:=ed September 13, 1982.