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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-07-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for November 7, 2024 Attendees: Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Cohen (Clerk), Ms. Heitz, Mr. Hornig (Planning Board), Ms. Manz (chair), Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Weiss (Vice-Chair), Mr. Zhao (COA) Absent: Ms. Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Rodney Cole (Capital Expenditures Committee), Jill Hai (Select Board), Mr. Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Guest: Linda Prosnitz (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. Manz called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. The roll was called. 2. Vote on HPB AHT letter of support for CPC request which will be sent to HPB by Nov 5th Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB provide a letter of support for the AHT CPC request. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Heitz, Ms. Byrnes, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: Mr. Pressman Mr. Pressman explained that his abstention is because he is a member of the CPC, and the CPC has not discussed the housing proposals. Mr. Pressman thought it was not appropriate to express an opinion at the HPB prior to discussions at the CPC meetings. Ms. Manz expressed agreement with Mr. Pressman’s reason for his abstention and approved of it. The HPB then reviewed and updated the wording of the draft letter of support. 3. Quick report on PB Local Preference on Oct. 23rd and on Nov. 6th Mr. Hornig shared the memorandum on local preference that was approved by the Planning Board. The memorandum may be viewed at the end of this webpage. 4. Top three HPB Goals to go over and form Working Groups Ms. Manz had asked that each HPB member send her their top 3 goals from the goal list discussed at the previous HPB meeting. Based on the input that Ms. Manz received, she identified 4 goals for further discussion which received the most votes. The HPB further reviewed and discussed the goals to determine which ones should be adopted by the HPB. Betsey moved adoption of the four goals presented by Ms. Manz. Ms. Heitz 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 HPB then discussed each of the goals to clarify their intent. Leads were selected for a working group for each of the goals. The working groups are responsible for identifying actions to help meet the goals. Mr. Zhao volunteered to lead a working group to work on the goal of advocating for the creation by both Town and private developers of affordable and accessible housing units that are close to services and facilities that would enable seniors to age in place in Lexington and meet the housing needs of citizens with mobility and other challenges. Ms. Weiss indicated interest in working to move this goal forward. Mr. Hornig volunteered to lead a working group to work on the goal of reviewing the provisions of the recently passed Affordable Homes Act regarding accessory dwelling units on residential properties and work to educate Lexington residents on the possibility of building these units. Ms. Thompson and Ms. Cohen indicated interest in working to move this goal forward. Ms. Byrnes volunteered to lead a working group to work on the goal of reviewing the report of the Housing Needs Assessment Committee due out in the spring and help to publicize its conclusions and support its recommendations specifically related to housing for lower income ranges as a measure of whether this has been achieved. Ms. Weiss and Mr. Pressman indicated interest in working to move this goal forward. Ms. Heitz volunteered to lead a working group to work on the goal of increasing AHT sources of funding by continuing to advocate for passage of an RETF proposal in the state legislature and, locally, by continuing to advocate for a larger allocation of funds to housing from the Community Preservation Fund. Ms. Manz indicated interest in working to move this goal forward. Ms. Manz moved that the HPB accept the four goals as the HPB goals for this season. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 9-0-0 to approve the motion. 5. Liaison Reports PB, COA, CPC, LexHAB, Sustainability, AHT CPC: Mr. Pressman provided a report to Ms. Manz who forwarded his email on November 7. Mr. Pressman has noted that there is not enough money to meet all of the requests made to the CPC. Planning Board: Mr. Hornig highlighted changes in the status of the MBTA zoning project submissions: • Temple Emunah, an abutter to the Piper Road project, has appealed the Planning Board’s decision on the Piper Road project and that appeal currently at the Superior Court. Mr. Hornig will send the complaint to the HPB. The complaint is a public record. • The first hearing has been held on the 3 – 5 Militia Drive project. There were several presentations. The project developers will be coming back in January for at least one more review by the Planning Board. • The next Planning Board meeting is on November 20. There will be hearings on 231 Bedford Street, 331 Concord Avenue, and 217 Massachusetts Avenue. • There is one relatively new project at 185 Bedford Street. The first hearing will be on December 11. Ms. Manz urged the HPB members to attend Planning Board meetings at which MBTA zoning projects will be reviewed. Mr. Pressman pointed out that members of the Planning Board have suggested design changes during the hearings. The project developers are not required to implement the suggested design changes, but they often consider them and sometimes implement them. Mr. Pressman noted that design suggestions are not limited to the Planning Board members, but may be made by any meeting attendee during the public comment period. Mr. Hornig said that it would be helpful to the Planning Board for attendees to make concrete suggestions for changes rather than simply expression opposition to an aspect of the proposal. 6. Review and approve minutes for Oct. 17, 2024 Ms. Weiss moved approval of the minutes. 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. 7. Strategic Plan Nov 21st meeting update Ms. Weiss and Ms. Manz clarified that the purpose of the meeting is to obtain input for the HOME funds. 8. New Business Ms. Manz said that there are two candidates for the opening on the HPB. The Select Board has invited the HPB to provide input on the candidates. Ms. Manz will relay to the Select Board the HPB’s input. The candidates are Beth Sager and Joyce Murphy. Ms. Heitz moved that Ms. Manz provide input to the Select Board that a number of HPB members have a personal acquaintance or have worked with Joyce Murphy and have a high opinion of her. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Heitz, Ms. Byrnes, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: Mr. Hornig On another subject, Ms. Manz suggested investigating the use of the AI minutes for aiding the writing of the minutes. Mr. Zhao offered to work offline with Ms. Cohen to further investigate the use of the AI minutes. 9. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on Dec. 12 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. 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 8-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.