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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-21-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for March 21, 2024 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Wendy Manz (Chair), Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice Chair), Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Paul Linton, Samita Mandelia, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), John Zhao (COA) Guests: Elaine Tung (AHT) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Wendy Manz and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm. The roll was called. 2. Update on March 13th first SPRD application at Meriam Street and Edgewood Drive The applicant presented the proposal with added details as to what will be built. The neighbors also spoke at the meeting. There was a detailed staff memo and a very detailed memo from the peer engineer. Given the number of small, detailed changes needed to address engineering, stormwater, and other issues, the hearing was continued until April 11. 3. Review and vote on latest AHT HPB support letter The HPB discussed key points to be made in the letter of support. Ms. Byrnes volunteered to consolidate the points into a letter to be sent to the Select Board. Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB support Article 33 and the issuance of a letter in support of Article 33 to the Select Board and to the Town Meeting Members. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the motion. 4. Report on informal working group on land acquisition 3/21 Ms. Manz said there was an informal meeting this afternoon of the stakeholders identified in the land acquisition proposal to the Select Board. The stakeholders agreed to continue the practice of meeting to discuss the best use of any land parcels that become available to the Town. 5. Calling and emailing TMMs for support on Article #33, authorizing the Select Board to issue an RFP for the parcel at North and Lowell Streets The HPB agreed to call Town Meeting Members in support of Article 33. Volunteers were selected for each precinct. Ms. Cohen showed a proposed message from Ms. Byrnes that could serve as a template for follow-up emails to Town Meeting Members who were unavailable by telephone. The sample message is attached below. 6. Select HPB member to serve on new Working Group preparing a townwide Housing Needs Assessment Ms. Manz asked for volunteers to serve on a working group preparing a townwide housing needs assessment. Ms. Byrnes volunteered. Ms. Weiss moved the selection of Ms. Byrnes to serve as the representative. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the motion. 7. Set April Meeting (conflict with April 11th PB meeting) The next meeting is May 2 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. 8. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm. Sample Email Message in Support of Article 33 Dear [TOWN MEETING MEMBER] As a resident of precinct [NUMBER] and a member of Lexington's Housing Partnership Board, I wanted to reach out to let you know that after carefully consideration, the HPB has come out in strong support of Article 33. The article authorizes: 1) the Select Board to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of a parcel of land on North Street which was gifted to the Town by the State in 1978 for purposes of conservation, recreation or housing 2) the Select Board or its designee to enter into a Land Disposition Agreement to allow the parcel to be used for affordable housing. This article is an early step by the Select Board, in cooperation with the Community Preservation Committee and the Affordable Housing Trust, toward a potential increase our stock of affordable housing, something Lexington residents and town meeting members have long supported but have struggled to achieve, and something that is very much needed. Approval of this article would permit the issuance of a Request for Proposal to private affordable housing developers. Such developers would then hopefully submit proposals. The specific requirements of that RFP will be determined by the Select Board in collaboration with community committees and stakeholders. And that the board has already begun to incorporate input from the immediate neighbors into its RFP planning. Please let me know if I can address any questions on this topic, and I hope you will support Article 33 as a valuable step toward a more inclusive and vibrant Lexington. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME HERE]