HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-20-AHTBT-min
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of December 20, 2023 1:00 pm
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: Bob Pressman, Kathryn Roy, Ingrid Klimoff, Margaret Heitz
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 1:03 pm.
1. Approval of November 30 Meeting Minutes
Ms. Tung asked for a motion to approve the minutes of 11/30/23 AHT meeting. Mr. Sandeen
moved. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call
vote (Erickson – yes, Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Payne – yes, Prosnitz – yes). Meeting minutes
approved.
2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
There was discussion on the CPC’s needs assessment section of their report outlining the
Affordable Housing Trust’s anticipated requests and projections for the next 5 years. The
Community Preservation Committee presents a needs assessment at the end of the funding
process each year.
The Trustees reviewed the Finance report dated Dec 14, 2023. Ms. Kowalski agreed to provide
an updated financial statement detailing the expenses.
3. Lowell Street update and timeline
Ms. Tung and Ms. Prosnitz met individually with the Select Board members (other than Mr.
Sandeen) to discuss the Lowell Street Warrant Article for Spring Town Meeting. Each of the
Select Board members advised and encouraged the Affordable Housing Trust to move forward
with the Warrant Article for the 2024 Spring Town Meeting. There was much discussion
regarding outreach starting with the neighborhood, and then town meeting members as well as
the various boards, committees and affinity groups. The presentation for Town Meeting and
preparation of frequently asked questions was also discussed.
The Trustees reviewed the Warrant Article in detail. Ms. Tung and Ms. Kowalski will consult
with Town counsel on the language in the motion.
The Trustees discussed whether they should proceed with filing an Article for the Spring Town
Meeting. They wished to have the meeting with the neighbors prior to the January 17, 2024
deadline of Article slides and video. The Trustees felt strongly that outreach to the
neighborhood should begin right away so that they could hear the neighbor’s questions and
concerns and start to address them. An informational meeting for neighbors was scheduled
for January 16, 2024. The consensus is to invite neighbors within 300 feet of the parcel.
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Another meeting (or two) will be scheduled in February with the neighbors and town meeting
members from Precincts 5 and 6 which would give the neighbo rs two or three opportunities to
air their concerns and questions. Since the Trust’s meetings are open to all, the neighbors
would also have additional opportunities to come to a Trust meeting. The Trustees agreed to
move forward with filing an Article with the Spring Town Meeting. The Trustees also agreed to
commit the personal time necessary to get everything accomplished.
Mr. Sandeen moved that the Affordable Housing Trust recommend to the Select Board to
place Warrant Article for Parcel 68-44 on the Spring Town Meeting Warrant. Ms. Prosnitz
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.
Mr. Erickson reviewed test plans he had previously prepared for the Lowell St parcel 68-44. He
asked for input on unit mix for 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units. Mr. Erickson also
showed images of housing with different roof types and materials, and one building that Cindy
Arens of Sustainable Lexington had emailed to the Trust. Ms. Kowalski and Mr. Sandeen
acknowledged that the images were not what was going to be built and that the Trust is not
going to be building or designing the affordable housing. The design and materials (as well as
parking) will be detailed in affordable housing developer proposals and the affordable housing
developer’s determination of financial feasibility.
4. Residents and Sustainability working groups reports
Not discussed this time.
5. Future Use of 173 Bedford Street
Mr. Sandeen shared that 173 Bedford Street is on Jan. 8 2024 Select Board agenda for
discussions on the future use of this site.
6. New Business
Not discussed this time.
7. Confirm future meeting dates
The future meeting dates will be discussed post adjournment.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 3:23 pm by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Sandeen –
yes, Tung – yes, Payne – yes).
List of documents reviewed:
1. AHT Funding Memo_12.14.2023
2. Lowell Street Timeline
3. 2024 ATM Warrant
4. Lowell Street Important Dates
5. 12-20-2023 AHT meeting – Lowell St Test Plans