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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-01-22-LCSR-min.pdf LEXINGTON CO&EMISSION on SUBURBAN RESPONSIBILITY 22 January 1969 A meeting of the Commission was held in the library of Muzzey Jr High School at 7 30 on Thursday, 22 January 1969 Present were Bernier, Christensen, Clarke , Conroy, Donovan, Earsy, Furdon, Graham, Greeley, Harding, Levingston, Lundberg, McLeod, Melbye , Riffin, Skov and Smith Also present were 23 other citizens The minutes of January 2, 1969 were accepted as presented MINUTES Mrs Christensen reported that most of the question- HOUSING 11 naires had been distributed She made known the QUESTIONNAIRE need for $15 for postage to send 253 copies to members of the JHS Class of 1963 Mr Greeley agreed to try to have envelopes run through the Selectmen' s postage meter A letter from Mr White to the Planning Board was read and HARMON copies were distributed to all members The letters set WHITE forth his plans to seek FHA assistance for the project PROPOSAL and his intention to proceed with building 4if FHA re- jects the application, reserving 20% of the units for 1 moderate income housing at the lowest possible rents under 1 a rent-supplement program, while continuing to seek FHA assistance to make the entire project moderate-income housing The question before the Commission was Can the LCSR support the warrant article to re-zone White ' s land under these conditions? If Commission members are not fully persuaded, they cannot persuade Town Meeting The official hearing on the article takes place on 12 February before the Planning Board at the High School Science Lecture Hall The Commission ought to have a position and be prepared to defend it at that time Mr Graham pointgd.iout that a rent supplement program would fall under FHA If the FHA application is not approved, the program applicable to the units set aside for moderate income housing would be operated by the Lexington Housing Authority, which would have to apply to HUD for funds Mr Scanlon has i; nformed the Commission that the LHA prefers to act only upon direction from Town Meeting Mrs Riff in asked two questions put by a P. B. member who could not be present 1 ) If FHA approval were denied, would Mr White be willing to wait a year before starting to build so that the Town Meeting could consider the zoning question as one for garden apartments? (2 ) How much lower than convention apart- ment rent would Mr White' s moderate income rents be? Mr White replied that the application to FHA requires detailed plans and specifications the major mxpenditure for the project is made in preparing the application; all that remains is the preparation of working drawings He reminded the group that he 2 had made the proposal at the instigation of the Commission Although eager to carry it out, without Commission support he would '1prefer to withdraw it and consider others ways of developing his land Rents , he said, would be somewhat lower but not significantly lower Mr White further remarked that FHA looks to sponsored projects with strong community support PHA would not seriously consider ;his application until the land had been re-zoned He felt the odds were good that he would get an FHA commitment within the year, and even better for getting approval in the following year From the point of view of FHA, what better investment could be made than one in moderate income housing in a community like Lex? Among considerations expressed by members of the Commission - There is a tremendous resource of funds in religious institu- tions, which are getting into this field There lies a possible source of a loan to Mr White if FHA funding fails - The mission of the Commission is to relieve conditions in_ the core city by providing housing for black ghetto residents If we can' t achieve that through this proposal, it might be better to put our effort elsewhere , for example, toward enlarging the METCO program in the new junior high school. - We must be sure, or as sure as possible that the proposal we support will really fulfil our purpose. It is sometimes better to do nothing than do the wrong thing - There is no way to obtain assurance before Town Meeting. There is no way to determine the effect of this on the schools Mr White and the Commission can onlyimake assumptions - educated guesses - about the number of school children involved, the probably assessed valuation of the project, and other economic questions which will be asked by Town Meeting members - Housing needs are tremendous Every community should exp'.ore every avenue to help supply the need The Commission should take the risk, support the article Whatever comes of the pro- posal will accomplish something, and will develop skills for handling further proposals - The chanc3s for FHA approval are really greatly enhanced by strong citizen support If the Commission and its participating groups all made known their interest uregently, there was a good chance of success It was VOTED unanimously That the LCSR request the I}IA,fh/study the letter from Harmon White to the Planning Board and,'report to the Commission on what would be involved to bring about LHA administration of leased housing in 20% of the units to be built under Mr. White' s proposal. 3 It was VOTED unanimously In principle, the LCSR promotes all efforts toward providing moderate income housing in Lexington. The Commissiontherefore supports the White proposal, with the intent that it provide moderate income housing The LOSR expresses its determination to work actively for governmental support of the proposal It was understood that this vote commits the Commission as a body and its members as individuals, but not necessarily all the members of groups represented by Commission members The chairman read a statement prepared by Mr Zaleski, WORKABLE Lexington Planning Director, setting forth the 1969 Work PROGRAM Program of the LCSR in its capacity of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Board of Selectmen for Lexington' s Workable Program for adoption by the Commission It was noted that this is not a commitment, but an expression of intention for the next year It was MOVED and seconded that the section on jobs be amended to include not only black people but also members of other disadvantaged groups Others pointed out that the work program was only for one year and that members of other minority groups understand that what benefits blacks also benefits them / Tae motion FAILED by a vote of 4 to 13 It was VOTED unanimously To adopt the Suggested 1969 Work Program 1 The chairman read the draft of a Summary of Recommendations of the LCSR, also prepared by Mr Zaleski, being a chronological listing of votes taken by lthe Commission, abstracted from the minutes It was VOTED unanimously To adopt the Summary of Recommendations as an official statement of the LOSR for the Workable Program The secretary was instructed to supply copies of the above two documents to all members The ,next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 5 February NEXT at 7 30 in the Muzzey Jr High library. MEETING LEXINGTON COMMISSION ON SUBURBAN RESPONSIBILITY 23 January 1969 1969 WORK PROGRAM Areas of Attention - Housing, Employment and Training, Education Housing Task Force Function To research available housing programs and report fully to the Commission. Members Mrs Christensen (Convenor), Mr Earsy, Mr Scanlon, Mrs. Riffin, Mr. Lindman, Mr. Graham. Specific Work Activities 1 . Investigate the need for moderate-income housing by local residents 2 Investigate possible sites for moderate-income housing that may become available 3 Investigate the g possible use of tax title lands for low- and moderate-income housing 4 Seek advice and assistance from the new Mass Department of ;. Community Affairs on state assistance in the areas of housing, employment and education. 5. Investigate the need for a fair housing center in Lexington. 6 Establish liaison with realtors and financial instisutions i involved in housing and seek their support 7. Contact major employers in the Lexington-Route 128 area to determine whether their black employees need assistance in finding adequate housing. 8. Review town codes to determine if they will unduly restrict low cost housing construction. R' Emviovment and Training Task Force Function. : To investigate the problems and potential programs to improve the employment of black people in the Route 128 area. Members Mr Bernier (Convenor) , Mr Conroy, Hr McLeod, Mr Smith. Specific Work Activities 1 Investigate progress and problems of developing on-the-job training programs for blacks by construction industries in the ts.' Lexington area. 2 Investigate means of providing progress toward improved hiring practices by contractors and unions f Ia 6.