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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-26-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for September 26, 2024 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Wendy Manz (Chair), Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice Chair), John Zhao (COA). Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Rod Cole (Finance), Jill Hai (Select Board Liaison), Paul Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB) Guests: Kathryn Roy 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. Manz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Report on LIP Application Ms. Manz signed the LIP application on behalf of the HPB and provided it to Ms. Rust, per Ms. Rust’s request. 3. Report on Lexington Home Rule letter to Select Board The Select Board has received the letter in support of the Lexington Home Rule petition. The Select Board has asked Ms. Manz to appear on Oct. 7 to explain the rationale behind the letter. 4. Report on Planning Board MBTA Multifamily proposals and general PB updates: Mr. Hornig said that seven projects have formally filed with the Planning Board for Site Plan review. The project at 89-91 Bedford Street was decided on August 14. There is no further work for the Planning board on that project. 5-7 Piper Road: On September 25, the Planning Board held a continued hearing on this project. The Planning Board closed the hearing at that meeting and will deliberate on the Piper Road project on October 9. As the hearing has been closed, there are no further hearings to be held on this project closed. Staff is drafting a decision for deliberation that will include the conditions that the staff and the Planning Board believes are necessary to comply with the zoning bylaw and with the Planning Board regulations. Mr. Hornig noted that things that are not in the zoning bylaws and not in Planning Board regulations cannot be the subject of conditions in the Planning Board’s decision. At this time, the staff and the peer reviewer consider all of the issues that have been raised to be resolved. The developer has agreed to coordinate with Temple Emunah regarding the scheduling of disruptive activities in relation to the Temple schedule of activities. Mr. Hornig also noted that permits and permissions will be needed by this project from multiple sources, including permission from the Department of Public Works to put the sewer down Piper Road and from MASS DOT to put the sewer in Waltham Street. They will have to comply with the noise bylaw. That said, Mr. Hornig again reminded the HPB that this is a by right project so that if the developer follows the rules, the developer can build the project. Given that, HPB support or opposition for a project is not relevant: the Planning Board can only impose conditions that implement requirements in the zoning bylaws and in Planning Board regulations. The Planning Board must approve a project that will be implemented with such conditions. Ms. Thompson added that there are issues that may go before the Select Board. 217 Massachusetts Avenue: The Planning Board held its first hearing on this project and continued the hearing to November 20. The extended continuation period is to allow the developers to start the conversation with the Conservation Committee regarding riverfront issues. The conversation is being held prior to the next Planning Board meeting in case the discussions with the Conservation Commission result in fairly major changes to the project. 329-331 Concord Avenue: The Planning Board will have a continued hearing on this project on October 9 17 Hartwell Ave: The Planning Board will have a continued hearing on this project on October 23. 231 Bedford Street: The Planning Board will have a continued hearing on this project on November 6. They are starting the discussion with the Conservation Commission to address their wetland issues. 3-5 Militia Drive: This project has not yet had a public hearing scheduled. The project is for the 3 parcels at the end of Militia Drive, currently consisting of three 2-story office buildings. The proposal is for a 322-unit mixed use development, one story of retail and four stories of residential. Note that this is as proposed but has not had any review by the Planning Board or Planning staff and it may or may not come forward in any form. Mr. Hornig showed an artist rendering of the proposed project and the site plan. The HPB also discussed the role of the HPB vis-à-vis the Planning Board and housing projects. Mr. Hornig said that it would be very useful for the HPB to provide input on unit mix and on local preference. There may be other areas in which HPB input would be valuable to the Planning Board. Comments from the HPB on unit mix and local preference are always useful to the Planning Board. 5. Liaison Reports Select Board: Ms. Hai sent a link to Ms. Manz regarding the causeway proposal. Ms. Manz forwarded the link to the HPB. Ms. Hai also mentioned that the Select Board has set November 13 as the date of the fall Special Town Meeting. Affordable Housing Trust: Ms. Heitz submitted a summary liaison report on the AHT 6. HPB annual goals for 2024- 2025 Mr. Hornig suggested a goal of developing local preference guidelines for the Town so that it is not a discussion for each project. Mr. Hornig also noted that the Affordable Homes Act is going to be permitting Accessory Dwelling Units by right to a great extent than Lexington already does, specifically, permitting backyard cottage ADUs by right. He suggested a second goal for the HPB to publicize or educating the community regarding ADUs. It is an opportunity that many residents are not aware of. Ms. Weiss said that Mr. Linton had suggested that, absent passage of the Real Estate Transfer Fee, a goal might be to raise funds for the AHT or to determine a path to funds for the AHT. Mr. Linton also suggested a joint meeting with the Select Board, LexHAB, the HPB, LexHAB, and the Lexington Housing Authority to educate the community or have a community dialogue. Ms. Heitz agreed with Mr. Hornig that the HPB could play a big role in helping to set local preference guidelines. Ms. Heitz agreed with Mr. Linton that we should support the AHT, including the boosting of CPC funding and that we should collaborate with regional groups on lobbying for the passage of the RETF or some other method of raising funds to affordable housing. Mr. Pressman also agreed that it would be a good goal for the HPB to play a role in setting local preference guidelines. He also said that Housing Authority is at an early stage in considering the increase of units at single unit sites; the HPB could advocate for this work. His third suggestion is that we learn the amount of funding Ms. Tung plans to request at the CPC meeting and support that application. Ms. Cohen suggested that we educate ourselves as to how to provide effective feedback to the Planning Board – and then doing so. Ms. Byrnes reported that the Lexington housing needs assessment report will be available in the next six months. Ms. Byrnes suggested that we promote the findings and support the actions as appropriate. Ms. Manz suggested that the HPB dedicate its next meeting to a discussion of goals. The HPB agreed with her suggestion. Ms. Manz will collate and send to the HPB the goal suggestions from tonight. 7. Review and approve minutes for August 15, 2024 Ms. Weiss moved approval of the minutes of August 15. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Heitz, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Pressman, Mr. Zhao, Ms. Manz Against: Ms. Byrnes Abstain: <none> 8. New Business There was no new business. 9. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on Oct. 17 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Ms. Manz will not be available for this meeting. Ms. Byrnes will chair the meeting in her place. 10. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Mr. Zhao seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 9-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:29 pm.