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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-14-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for September 14, 2023 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Jeri Foutter (Chair), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Wendy Manz, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, John Zhao (COA), Harriet Cohen (Clerk) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison) Guests: William Erikson (Affordable Housing Trust), Linda Prosnitz (Affordable Housing Trust), Kathryn Roy The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Foutter called the meeting to order at 7:30. The roll was called. 2. Affordable Housing Trust proposal for North St. and Lowell St parcel Ms. Prosnitz introduced the discussion by asking for support of two items. The first is for pre- funding for the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) from CPA funds. The goal is to build a reliable funding source for the creation of affordable housing. Mr. Erickson spoke about the undeveloped parcel of land off of Lowell Street. It is a town-owned parcel that could be developed for affordable housing. The AHT has developed conceptual plans to show the viability of using the parcel for affordable housing. If the Town moves forward with using the land for affordable housing, the AHT would create an RFP to find a developer for the project. The AHT will present their proposed use of the land to the Select Board on Monday, September 18, to ask for the Select Board’s thoughts on the proposed use. If the Select Board is favorably inclined toward the use, the AHT will do an in-depth exploration of using the land for affordable housing. The first step would be a feasibility study. The HPB then asked questions of the AHT regarding the proposed use. After discussion, the HPB then turned to the proposed letter of support for both pre-funding and the use of the parcel for affordable housing to the Select Board. Ms. Weiss moved HPB approval of the letter of support. Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Heitz, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Foutter Against: none Abstaining: none 3. New Business Ms. Arens said that at the Sept. 13 Planning Board meeting the payment-in-lieu specified in the SPRD was discussed. The payment-in-lieu as specified in the SPRD is $500/sq foot. The Planning Board heard a proposal at the Sept. 13 meeting for a greatly reduced payment-in-lieu amount. No decision was made and the discussion will continue at a subsequent Planning Board meeting. 4. Next meeting Sept. 28th and Thank You Party Oct. 5th Ms. Foutter reminded the HPB that the next meeting of the HPB will be on Sept. 28 at 7:30. The party will be later than Oct. 5. Ms. Foutter will advise the HPB as to the date when she has that information. 5. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Heitz, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Foutter Against: none Abstaining: none The meeting adjourned at 8:29 pm.