HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-11-AHTBT-min
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of December 11, 2023 10:00 am
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in the Parker room, Town
Office Building
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, William
Erickson, Tiffany Payne, Linda Prosnitz
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Ragi Ramachandran,
Administrative Assistant
Other attendees: Elizabeth Rust, RHSO; Bob Pressman, Kathryn Roy, Ingrid Klimoff
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 10:07 am.
1. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
On December 8, 2023 Ms. Tung and Mr. Sandeen met with the Ed Augustus, Secretary of
Housing for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at a Lexington Housing Authority site visit
along with Representative Michelle Ciccolo, Jill Hai, Cindy Arens, Chair of the Sustainable
Lexington Committee, and Caileen Foley, Executive Director of LHA
The Community One Stop for Growth applications are due in 2024. Ms. Kowalski will check the
list of programs to see if there are programs they should be applying for.
2. Lowell Street update and timeline
Ms. Kowalski explained the process of a Development Review Team (DRT) meeting. The next
DRT meeting is on Jan. 3 where the Housing Trust will be presenting for the Lowell Street
concept. Ms. Tung and Mr. Erickson will attend this meeting.
The Town Meeting Warrant article is due on Dec. 14. There was discussion on whether the
Trust should proceed with the Annual Town Meeting or wait until Fall for the Warrant article.
The Trustees reviewed the tasks to accomplish to make it to the Annual Town Meeting. The
video presentation and slide deck are due on Jan. 17. The Annual Town Meeting starts on
March 18, 2024.
After discussion, the Trust consensus is to maximize affordability, have more family style,
‘livable units’ with adequate storage, 2/3rd’s of two to three bedrooms units, in the income mix
of 30% AMI to 80% AMI. Ms. Rust advised including energy goals in the RFP such as fossil fuel
free development, and providing more clarity on the unit sizes.
For community engagement and outreach, the Trustees reviewed the list of boards and
committees to contact, the meeting schedule, notification of neighbors for an information
session, and the timelines for meetings.
Mr. Sandeen suggested a two on two meeting between the Trust and Select Board to update
the Select Board on the status and planning and the Warrant Article.
After reviewing the timelines, the financial milestones to enable the project, the pre -
applications due in November, the Trust felt that they should proceed with filing an Article for
the Spring Town meeting pending discussions with the Select Board.
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Ms. Kowalski shared the motion for the Warrant article. “To see if the Town will vote to
authorize the Select Board or its designee to seek proposals to develop affordable housi ng on
Town-owned parcel 68-44, and to authorize the Select Board or its designee to enter into a
Land Disposition Agreement and associated agreements with a successful proposer.” This
motion will be reviewed with the Town counsel and any modifications suggested will be
included.
Ms. Tung requested a motion, to submit the above motion for the Annual Town Meeting
Warrant article, including any modifications suggested by Town counsel. Mr. Erickson moved.
Ms. Payne seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote
(Erickson – yes, Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Payne – yes). Motion passed.
3. Residents and Sustainability working groups reports
Mr. Erickson and Ms. Payne had a meeting with Cindy Arens and Maggie Peard, and agreed to
share the meeting notes with everyone.
4. Future Use of 173 Bedford Street
Not discussed this time.
5. New Business
Not discussed this time.
6. Confirm future meeting dates
The next meeting will be on Dec. 20 at 1 pm.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 12:10 pm by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Sandeen –
yes, Tung – yes, Payne – yes).
List of documents reviewed:
1. Lowell Street Timeline
2. Lowell Street Important Dates