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PLANNING BOARD
IfIT8 JUN 13
�EkINGF 114 V: 14
Kenneth G. Briggs June 5, 1978 I 'T�W!Nj FiF}w BUILDING
Planning Director L. ',Lax' on°'v'�fA 02173
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CHARGE TO THE HOUSING MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE
Building lots in Lexington are now selling for $20,000 and up, and new
housing costs in the vicinity of $80,000 and up With the diminishing
supply of land and the current demand for housing, the escalation of
housing costs will continue.
The high cost of housing tends to create a monolithic community of upper
income people. People of moderate incomes are being economically ex-
cluded from Lexington. Many people have expressed their concern that
people who work in Lexington, children of Lexington residents, and
people on fixed incomes can no longer afford housing in Lexington The
Lexington Growth Policy Report identified a lack of moderately priced
housing as one of the major problems facing Lexington
The Town has also failed to comply or even deal effectively with the
standards of Chapter 774 of the Acts of 1969 Lexington will satisfy
the standards of Chapter 774 when 889 low and moderate income dwelling
units are constructed or 109 acres of non-publicly owned land in the
Town are allocated to low and moderate income housing At the present
time, 170 or 1 8% of all dwelling units in Lexington are classified as
low and moderate income housing, and these occupy only 17 acres or 0 23%
of the total non-publicly owned land
The Planning Board was requested by the Lexington Housing Authority to
develop a Comprehensive Master Plan for Housing
The development and implementation of the Housing Master Plan is one of
Lexington's chief priorities Because of the importance attached to
this issue, the Planning Board wants the subcommittee to understand what
is expected and when.
The following constitutes the charge to the committee
1 Determine the availability of all Federal programs
2 Determine the requirements for and availability of Federal and
State funding and which ones are most applicable to Lexington
3 Identify the requirements for housing, i e. , transportation, prox-
imity to services, etc
4 Identify all land in Lexington which meets the requirement for
low and moderate income housing
5 Prepare site analyses of land to determine usability
6 Identify and analyze the housing needs of
a. elderly citizens
b low and moderate income families
c newly married and single people
7 Prepare and present recommendations for a program to achieve compliance
with Chapter 774
8 Explore ways the Town can meet housing needs through
a Governmental assistance programs (Federal, State and local)
b Town policy, e g 25% of all new multi-family developments be
for low and moderate income families
c zoning amendments
9 Prepare for the Planning Board a written report embodying recommendations
for a Housing Master Plan by November 1, 1978
10 Help the Planning Board and the Lexington Housing Authority prepare
materials and Articles for public information and Town Meeting
The Planning Board would like to present the Housing Master Plan to the
1979 Annual Town Meeting, therefore the Committee's work, including public
information hearings, must be completed by November 1, 1978, in order to
prepare for Town Meeting Assignments and work schedules will be made at
the first meeting in June
The Planning Board sincerely appreciates your assistance in the development
of this Master Plan for the Housing Authority
LEXINGT N PLANNING BOAR
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Albert P Zabin, Chairman
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