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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-12-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for December 12, 2024 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Wendy Manz (chair), Joyce Murphy, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), John Zhao (COA) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Rod Cole (Capital Expenditures Committee), Jill Hai (Select Board), Paul Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Guests: Ingrid Klimoff, Linda Prosnitz, Catherine Yan 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. Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. The roll was called. 2. Welcome new member Ms. Weiss welcomed Ms. Murphy to the HPB. 3. Update on Planning Board MBTA multifamily proposals Mr. Hornig provided an update on the status of the MBTA Communities Act proposals by email. The Planning Board finished its site plan review of 17 Hartwell Avenue. Three other proposals have been fully reviewed. Ground has been broken only for the 89-91 Bedford Street 32-unit development. There is one new proposal for 7 Hartwell Avenue, for a total of 5 proposals awaiting review. There was a brief discussion of next steps for the developments that have been reviewed. The developers of 331 Concord Avenue said they expect the building to be ready for occupancy in early 2028. 4. Liaison Reports PB, COA, CPC, LexHAB, Sustainability, AHT Affordable Housing Trust: The AHT is in discussions on the Lowell Street parcel. The AHT had requested $3 million in CPA funds. There was a straw vote at the CPC for giving $3 million dollars to the AHT. This straw vote indicated a slight majority in favor of the providing those funds to the AHT. The final vote was postponed until the Recreation Committee submits its proposal. Mr. Pressman added that it is very likely that LexHAB will receive the $494,000 in CPA funds that they requested. Planning Board: The Planning Board requested that the Select Board create a warrant article for five zoning bylaw changes, none expected to be controversial. 5. Reports from Working Groups 1. Advocating for creation of housing units so seniors can age in place. Mr. Zhao and Ms. Weiss met. Mr. Pressman provided some suggestions. The advocacy is both for seniors and people with disabilities. Mr. Zhao and Ms. Weiss are planning to draft letters to advocate for housing for seniors and people with disabilities. They would review these letters with the HPB and then send to various stakeholders. It’s important that seniors in Lexington can downsize within Lexington, that people with mobility challenges have housing, and that the housing is close to essential services. Mr. Zhao and Ms. Weiss also considered teaming up with the Council on Aging and the Disability Commission. 5% of the units in any development over 20 units must be accessible units. Mr. Hornig noted that new housing will be more appropriate for seniors than older housing because of the way the building code has changed. In larger developments, there will also be an elevator, most of the units will be on one level, and most will have below ground covered parking. He also noted that, to his knowledge, the Town cannot require anything inconsistent with State standards. Ms. Prosnitz said that the AHT is in discussion with some developers about making more affordable units available, perhaps by buying down the affordability of units from 80% to 60%. When their plans are more detailed, the discussions will continue. Ms. Prosnitz also noted that, based on her experience, it’s important to know what the demand for affordable housing is before requiring or incentivizing accessible units. There is certainly a demand for single floor, elevator units. The real question is what the demand is for fully wheelchair-accessible units. 2. Reviewing Affordable Homes act re: accessory dwelling units Mr. Hornig reviewed the discussions and action items that took place at a meeting of Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, and Ms. Cohen. The goal of the group is to determine how to get more people to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs can be, but are not required to be, handicapped accessible. The four things that were discussed in the group meeting were: ▪ Providing comments to the EOHLC on the draft regulations for ADUs. The comment period runs from December 20 to January 10. The final regulations will be issued on February 2. ▪ Drafting articles for written media, like the Lexington Observer or the Lexington Times, promoting ADUs. ▪ Working with the Town on updating the website to make information on ADUs more available and providing clarity as to the current regulations and those that will take effect on February 2. ▪ Finding sponsors and presenters for one or more community forums on the benefits of ADUs and information on building one. 3. Reviewing report of Housing Needs Assessment Committee The working group has not met since our last HPB meeting. The Housing Needs Assessment Report is not yet available.. It will be available in draft form in March. The Housing Needs Assessment Committee will be seeking input after the draft is available. The final report is targeted for June. The Committee may proceed with a survey after the final report is published. The members of the Committee are seeking a way to continue their work after the final report is published. Ms. Byrnes suggested that the HPB may be an appropriate convening organization for continued work by the Committee. Ms. Heitz asked if a representative from the Human Rights Committee is on the Housing Needs Assessment Committee. Ms. Byrnes said that the committee did not have a Human Rights Committee Representative but would raise the subject at the next meeting. Ms. Heitz said that she would send Ms. Byrnes a contact for the Human Rights Committee. 4. Advocating for RETF and larger allocation from CPA Ms. Manz sent a write-up of a meeting with Representative Michelle Ciccolo. Ms. Heitz recapped the meeting, which was a debrief of the legislative work on housing. Part of the purpose of the meeting was to ask Representative Ciccolo for suggestions as to how to work with the legislature to pass the Real Estate Transfer Fee. Ms. Heitz noted that that various groups are advocating for the passage of the Real Estate Transfer Fee (RETF) in the next legislative session. Representative Ciccolo said that support had not been broad enough to support the passage of the RETF legislation and that, having spent significant effort on housing in the current legislation session, her understanding is that the legislature is focused on other areas for the upcoming session, notably transportation. Significant. additional transportation funding is needed. Representative Ciccolo noted that transportation is directly related to housing. If there is good regional transportation, then housing outside of the Rt. 95 belt would be more desirable. Representative Ciccolo suggested that the focus be on building a state-wide coalition for the RETF and advocating for the RETF in a later legislative session. The RETF would provide a steady stream of funds to the AHT which, in turn, supports affordable housing in Lexington. Ms. Manz noted that, in the meeting, we also discussed revisiting the Community Preservation Act and perhaps adjusting the minimum allocation for affordable housing and other major purposes from 10% to 15%. Ms. Manz and Ms. Heitz will continue to work to build an RETF housing coalition. 6. Lexington Housing Foundation Update Ms. Cohen recapped the history of the Lexington Housing Foundation, a 501(3)(c) corporation, and suggested that dissolving the Foundation is the appropriate next step. Ms. Manz said that she would review the LHF documents to determine next steps. 7. Proposal for funds for Housing Needs Assessment Ms. Byrnes said that the Housing Needs Assessment Committee is considering a survey following the publication of their report in June but is not now in a position to request funds for the survey. 8. Review and approve minutes for Sept. 20, Oct. 23, November 7, 2024 Ms. Cohen noted that a meeting had been scheduled for Oct. 23 but the meeting did not occur. Ms. Weiss moved approval of the Sept. 20 and Nov. 7 minutes. Mr. Pressman seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Heitz, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Manz, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Weiss Against: <none> Abstain: Mr. Zhao, Ms. Murphy 9. Discussion of HPB Meeting length of time Ms. Manz asked for comments regarding expanding the HPB meeting time from an hour and a half to two hours. The sense of the HPB is to continue with an hour and a half for the meeting, shortening the agenda and more tightly managing time. 10. New Business Ms. Prosnitz reported that her understanding is that the Town staff did not recommend filling the position of Housing Officer. Mr. Pressman said that Ms. Kowalski submitted a Program Improvement Request (PIR) for $43.2M to be used for “contract services related to supporting Lexington's affordable housing initiatives, including part-time administrative support for the affordable housing, trust procurement for affordable housing development analyses, reports, and monitoring and part-time support to housing related committees, such as the housing, partnership board and housing initiatives that staff have been unable to sustain this fiscal year, such as the quarterly housing roundtables.” The PIR is one of many that have been submitted, and it will not necessarily be funded. 11. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on January 23 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Mr. Hornig noted that the ability to hold online meetings will end in March. The legislature may extend the use of online meetings, though possibly not before the end of March. In that case, the HPB would need to reserve a room for the April meeting and hold the meeting in person. 12. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment. Ms. Byrnes seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 11-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 pm.