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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-22-VISION2025-min Town of Lexington Vision for Lexington Committee Meeting March 22, 2024 Remote Meeting 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Minutes Members Present: Sara del Nido Budish, Margaret Coppe, Marian Cohen, Andrew Dixon, John Giudice, Dan Joyner, Kathleen Lenihan , Carol Marine, Bob Peters, Ambilu Sivabalan, Min Zou Absent: Jill Hai, Bhumip Khasnabish, Shannon Murtaugh Guests: Linda Prosnitz, Vice Chair, Affordable Housing Trust Elizabeth Rust: Executive Director, Regional Housing Services Office (RHSO) The meeting was called to order: 7:49 am The Remote Meeting Script was read by Margaret Coppe Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Joyner, Aye; Leniham Aye: Marine, Aye; Peters, Aye; Sivabalan, Aye; Zou, Aye. Minutes:  The approval of minutes from February 22, 2024, was moved by John Giudice and seconded by Bob Peters. Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Joyner, Aye; Leniham Aye: Marine, Aye; Peters, Aye; Sivabalan, Abstain; Zou, Abstain. The vote was unanimous. Meeting Highlights: Select Board has received one applicant for the open position on the VFL Committee. Margaret will contact the applicant and invite to the next meeting. VFL Website Report on Emails Dan Joyner reported no emails this month. Asian Participation on Town Committees Sara del Nido Budish has begun discussion with former committee members Weidon Wang and Dan Krupka to get information on prior studies and reports. She will have more information at the next meeting. Update on Subcommittee on Voter Participation in Lexington Marian Cohen reported from the subcommittee. 1 The subcommittee is putting together voter information by precinct for the past 12 years. Marian Cohen will be preparing graphs. Concern about low turnout in municipal elections continues. Among reasons given in the town wide survey was that the results are forgone, day of the week, and time of year. Concern about how to get information out about candidates without a local newspaper with a large subscription base. There are numerous forums, but how to get that information out is problematic. Could the VFL have a role in this? And civic engagement remains an important component. The subcommittee was asked about any correlation with precinct turnout after Avalon Apartments opened in Precinct 3. The impact of recent zoning changes and the implementation of early voting. Discussion on new study, report, or recommendations The following discussion was to inform the committee on the status of different affordable housing initiatives in Lexington, with an eye towards commissioning a future study on housing in Lexington. Linda Prosnitz, Vice Chair, Lexington Affordable Housing Trust, provided information about the Trust. It was formed one year ago in Lexington; there are Housing Trusts in 129 other towns. It provides a way for the town to fund affordable housing with maximum flexibility. It is separate from LexHab. The role of LexHAB is to expand the Town’s inventory of affordable housing for rental to families of low and moderate income, and with preference when possible to those who work and live in Lexington. LexHAB’s inventory of affordable units consists of scattered-site, singles and duplexes, condominium units, and family-style homes. The Board was established by an Act of the Commonwealth in 1983 to investigate and implement alternatives for providing affordable housing in Lexington for persons of low, moderate, and middle income. The powers and duties of this Board are intended to supplement and not limit those of the Lexington Housing Authority. LexHab is in the process of obtaining 501c3 status in order to fund affordable housing in a more nimble way than it currently can. The Affordable Housing Trust has access to Community Preservation funds (currently at $2 million), Brookhaven money among other sources. It has funded one LexHab unit to date. It has the advantage of not having to wait for Town Meeting action. It has the ability to quickly provide funds for emergency purchases, and the potential to use trust funds to either add affordable housing units or buy down affordability. Andrew asked for a definition of affordable housing. Linda, along with board member Carol Marine explained that most affordable housing is for families with incomes up to 80% AMI 2 (Area Median Income) which varies by geographical location. Linda Rust, Executive Director, Regional Housing Services Office, confirmed that there is a regional and statewide housing shortage. She mentioned that Lexington has commissioned a housing needs assessment to identify the town’s specific housing needs. Lexington is taking firm steps towards increasing affordable housing by establishing the Housing Trust, moving LexHab into 501c3 status and adopting the MBTA zoning. Linda pointed out that there is a need in Lexington with many on wait lists. Carol Marine, member of CHAPA (Citizens Housing and Planning Association), and the committee, stressed the importance of working with seasoned affordable housing developers. Linda added that every unit of affordable housing is built at a loss, partially due to Mass Ch 149, prevailing wage law. Linda was asked about the Lexington Housing Authority. It is state public housing mostly senior housing When asked what was needed going forward, Liz made the following points. 1. Show support with visibility (letters to editor, attending meetings). 2. Forming pro-active supporting groups. 3. Influence and lobby surrounding towns in the region (the Concord Affordable Housing Trust is looking to establish a regional group). 4. Enact the Real Estate Transfer Tax to raise revenue for affordable housing. Both guests urged supporting Article 33, authorizing the Select Board to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of Town-owned land described as parcle68-44 on Lowell Street, at Lexington’s Annual Town Meeting. Questions about the impact of increasing housing in Town on the schools were raised. School Committee member Kathleen Lenihan answered that the school system could accommodate more children without undue burden. Liz and Linda emphasized the importance of attracting families and younger people to town to increase future vibrancy. The committee decided to continue this conversation at its next meeting. Next Meeting: April 26, 2024 @ 7:45am by Zoom Motion to adjourn: Roll Call Vote: Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Joyner, Aye; Leniham Aye: Marine, Aye; Peters, Aye; Sivabalan, Aye; Zou, Aye Adjourn: 9:00 am 3