HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-27-AHTBT-min
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2024 7:00 pm
Remote meeting on Zoom
Article 33: Information session for Precinct 5 and 6 Town Meeting Members and Lowell
Street/North Street neighbors
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, Tiffany
Payne, Linda Prosnitz, William Erickson
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Ragi Ramachandran,
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Tung chaired the remote meeting on Zoom, and called the meeting to order at 7:01pm. The
meeting was attended by Precinct 5 and 6 Town Meeting Members, Parcel 68-44 neighbors,
and members of the public.
Ms. Tung and Mr. Sandeen explained the format of the meeting. There was an initial slide
presentation from the Trust on the need for affordable housing, the site analysis of Lowell St
parcel 68-44, the concerns raised by the community, how the Trust plan to address the
concerns, and ‘the process’ once Article 33 passes, the opportunities for community
engagement and inputs.
The attendees shared their concerns, questions and comments after the introductory
presentation:
1) Is parcel 68-44 the right site and is it appropriate for 50 units. What risks have been
identified for development on this parcel? Is Warrant Article 33 the right process to go
forward and build housing?
2) What steps have been taken and how is the Trust responding to the concerns raised ?
3) Is there a comparable precedent to this project that the Trust could share with the
community?
4) The importance of starting the process now because it is a long process
5) Who is the landlord once the RFP is selected? Does the entity have the resources and
staffing to manage a property that might be larger than what they have managed in the
past?
6) The due diligence that has been conducted, concerns about the financial cost to town
7) No feasibility study has been done specifically for this site.
8) What is the threshold for economic viability?
9) Are there other sites more suited to the density proposed?
10) Concerns raised about transparency in the process
11) It is an isolated location, an affordable housing development in Lexington at this
location is exclusionary.
12) This is a very early exploration of how the land will be used for housing. This is not a
vote to approve a specific development plan. There will be plenty of opportunity for
public input and comment.
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13) Will the public be able to attend the Select Board meeting and voice their concerns at
the meeting?
14) Comment that Article 33 is a step forward in the commitment to creating the homes as
identified in the Lexington Next comprehensive plan.
15) This project provides opportunity for diversity, and to participate in the educational
system to those who cannot otherwise.
Mr. Erickson explained the due diligence performed by the Trust, the Traffic study will be
conducted in the context of a real proposal, and a real proposal is not available yet.
Mr. Sandeen stated that all the comments will be considered, the Affordable Housing Trust and
Select Board are listening to the comments and they will be considered in the process.
Mr. Sandeen stated there were 29 attendees in the meeting.
Adjourn
Mr. Sandeen moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Ms. Prosnitz, and on a roll call vote:
(Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Sandeen – yes, Tung – yes, Payne – yes), the meeting adjourned
at 8:34pm.
List of documents reviewed:
Article 33 Info session Precincts 5 and 6 and Neighbors – slides presentation