HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-FHC-rpt.pdf 1986 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
BOARD OF SELECTMEN REPORT ON FAIR HOUSING RESOLUTION
The Fair Housing Resolution is concerned with the issues of racial ethnic and
economic diversity of the population in Lexington and the development of
reasonably priced housing. The resolution encourages the Board of Selectmen to
coordinate efforts of other Town Boards and requires a report on achieving fair
housing objectives. We encourage Town Meeting Members to look at the details of
the 1986 report on subsidized and affordable housing prepared by the Planning
Board. The Selectmen would point out the following general highlights for
1985/86:
1. Fair Housing Committee appointed by the Selectmen met ten times in 1985.
2. Members of the Fair Housing Committee met with Selectmen on fair housing
issues in order to discuss an outreach plan for diversity in minority
status when implementing tenant selection.
3. LexHAB acquired and occupied ten units at Muzzey with an aggressive
outreach plan for rental The ultimate mix was two minorities, 4 on
Section 8 subsidization, 2 elderly single women, 3 single young mothers
one married couple with baby one single young male.
4 Selectmen supported the proposal for the development of thirty-eight units
at Franklin School of which ten are for low income and are appointing a
committee to work with GBCD on tenant selection.
5. Selectmen supported the Housing Authority in its efforts to build housing
for special needs citizens on Hill Street and Forest Street and are working
with the Housing Authority on investigation of property owned by the Town
on Mass. Avenue in East Lexington for handicapped family housing.
6. The Board voted in early 1986 to show an interest in participating in the
Mass. Housing Partnership Program which is designed to provide affordable
housing opportunities. Details of this program will be reviewed in 1986.
7 Legal documents are being completed for acquisition of a two-family house
on Bedford Street from Mark Moore which will be conveyed to the Housing
Authority for low and moderate income purposes.
8. Katandin Woods - The Board negotiated long-term affordability options and
other development restrictions relating to the proposed development of 126
units of which 26 will be for low and moderate income. The long-term
affordability option was recommended as a requirement to the Board of 1
Appeals, which they did pass on to the developer
9. Emerald Street Support was given to construction of an affordable house
in cooperation with Lexington Rotary and Minuteman Regional Vocational
School Discussions are continuing that might allow for subsequent
projects of this kind.
10. The Town was awarded a grant by the Executive Office of Communities and
Development to assemble a Town land inventory to identify potential sites
for future housing initiatives.
11. The Selectmen most recently supported the Choate Synmes Life Care Facility
as another response to a more diversified housing mix.
The Selectmen have continued to target annually in its goal setting process the
creation and expansion of more affordable and diverse housing for low, moderate
and middle income families.
Paul W. Marshall Chairman
John C. Eddison
William J. Dailey Jr
Jacquelyn R. Smith
Leo P McSweeney