HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-12-19-LCSR-min.pdf LEXINGTON COMMISSION ON SUBURBAN RESPONSIBILITY 19 December 1973
NEXT MEETING 16 January 197k
Present Elizabeth Clarke, Eric Clarke(for S Brown), Gravis,
{ Eaton, Power, Saakvitne, Turner.
Minutes of the 28 November meeting were accepted.
Mr. Eaton said that he is among those whom Moderator L. Cole is MMRVTS
{ considering for appointment to the Voke-Tech School Committee,
to replace Mr. E. Mollo-Christensen.
Ms. Clarke and Mr. Eaton reported that the General Court did not H. 6661
pass the turnkey provisions of this housing legislation.
Ms. Clarke said that Ms. Riffin told her the warrant deadline will TOWN MEETING
remain at 21 December because no change has been made in the date
for Town elections.
The Commission's task force(Eric Clarke, Michelman, and Plasse; SCATTERED SITES
Dasa absent) met with LHA under Chairman J. Rooney. The Authority
did not take action on the two warrant articles suggested by the
Commission; Mr Power said he believes they will favor sponsoring
them. Mr. Michelman wrote to Mr. Scanlon on 11 December forwarding
three articles one on ownership, reworded to account for the non-
passage of turnkey legislation, one on bond finance, and a new third
article to allow Town Meeting to vote expenses for architectural
services and the like.
After some discussion the following motion was duly made, seconded,
and carried
That the Commission forward to Board of Selectmen Chairman
Kenney the texts of the three scattered-site-related articles
(ownership, finance, services) in Mr. Michelman's letter of
11 December 1973 to Mr Scanlon, together with a request that
the Board reserve space for them in the warrant for the 197k
Annual Town Meeting.
Continuing the discussion about LHA, Mr. Power said he thinks
1h' Rooney wants the Town to retain Town ownership of the sites
and that LHA thinks of itself only as an owner/landlord. Mr. Turner
asked if this is a change in philosophy, and Mr. Clarke observed that
some persons in Town oppose any arrangements whereby an owner might
get special benefits, e.g. by reselling the property. It is Mr.
Michelman's view that this can be avoided.
Ms. Butters' view, reported by Ms. Clarke, is in agreement with that HOUSING
of Mr. Plasse, that young people have greater flexibility in looking
for housing than, for example, retired people. Ns. Butters believes
that the Town should make it easier to convert structures such as
barns into residences, and to make multiple-family use of large
dwellings. Mr. Clarke briefly reviewed some of the present Town
provisions up to four boarders may be taken in without a permit;
-2-
a home nay be converted to two-family use with Board of Appeals
permission (similarly for conversion of a barn, although there
may not in general be two houses on one lot). Occasionally the
rules are circumvented by describing groups of persons as "servants".
Mr. Eaton said the Committee will not meet in December. HOUSING
SUBCOMMITTEE
Mr. Eaton, Ms. Butters, and Mr. Wathen-Dunn attended the LWV
conference on "Legal Tools to Open Housing" in Boston on 6 December.
He praised the way the conference was managed and the quality of the
speakers. He showed several brochures, including a special report on
Chapter 774 from Citizens' Housing and Planning Association, "What
About Housing?" by ChPA, and "Equilibrium", a magazine published
by Zero Population Growth, Palo Alto, CA. He summarized the talks
as follows. Allan Rodgers, Director, Massachusetts Law Reform
Institute, spoke on Chapter 774 operation, including its use as a
"threat" to get local action. Bruce Leiser, Massachusetts House of
Representatives, Urban Affairs Committee, asked "Where was the LWV"
when the housing legislation, including the defeated turnkey provi-
sions, was considered. He also described discrimination by local
banks in lending; the federal 707 rental assistance program; and the
need for land use planning. Lane Sarver of Cambridge spoke on the
division of that city into the industrial eastern section and affluent-
residential and student western section. MIT has built 700 turnkey
units; 1000 units have been built under Section 236. Zena Nemetz,
architect, spoke about the privately-sponsored 808 Memorial Drive
housing. She said there are five elements for a successful housing
program in a city deteriorated site; initial proposal must develop
opposition; understand opposition and build reconciliation; real
community interest; and community influence on design. Lewis Crampton,
DCA Commissioner, spoke about the components of an effective housing
program. Mr. Eaton hopes to have speakers of the calibre of Mr.
Crampton and others at a proposed Lexington seminar on housing.
s. Power described how a first-come, first-served policy with LHA PROCEDURES
respect to applications is rarely followed; there is always a "crisis"
applicant who gets moved ahead on the waiting list. The Authority
must follow certain rules, for example, placing applicants of lower
income first. Mr. Clarke asked if, in view of the long waiting times,
the LHA follows up to see if applicants have in the meanwhile gotten
housing. Mr. Powers said there is a second interview, and most often
people have "made do". The LHA as a whole passes on applications; the
chairman screens them beforehand. Mr. Power believes the Authority
should be required to be less subjective.(This discussion was prompted
by the news that a provision for chronological handling of applications
was also defeated in the Massachusetts legislature.)