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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-20-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for February 20, 2025 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz (Chair), Joyce Murphy, Bob Pressman, Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), John Zhao (COA) Absent: Sarah Morrison, Melanie Thompson Guest: Linda Prosnitz (Affordable Housing Trust) 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 7:02 pm. The roll was called. 2. Fair Housing Event Ms. Murphy spoke about the testing by housing advocates of real estate offices to ensure they adhere to Fair Housing practices. The testing focuses on ensuring that there is no discrimination against families with children. The report on the testing and other topics showed two violations in Lexington, which was similar to the results in other Towns. 3. Short recap of Feb. 12th Planning Board Meeting on Article 2 Article 2 was on the agenda of the February 12 Planning Board meeting. Ms. Manz noted that the preponderance of public comments were against the adoption of Article 2, though there were many comments in favor of Article 2. Mr. Hornig explained that the Feb. 12 meeting was the first session of the Planning Board’s hearing on Article 2, with a presentation of the Article by the proponents, public comments, and Planning Board comments. The hearing was continued to allow any proposed changes to the Article, especially in regard to compliance with EOHLC requirements. The hearing will continue on Feb. 26. The process for the Feb. 26 hearing will be much the same as on the Feb. 12 hearing. Article 2 will be discussed at and voted on at the Town Meeting on March 17. The discussion at the HPB noted that the EOHLC estimated that 12,000 plus units could be built given the current zoning. However, that number is calculated using a somewhat arbitrary formula and is likely to substantially overstate the number of houses that could be built. Unfortunately, there is no acceptable method for calculating a more realistic number. Mr. Hornig noted that the Planning Board had not expected that developers would want to build housing on Hartwell Avenue. The 440 units that are now proposed by developers was a surprise to the Planning Board. Ms. Heitz expressed her concern that Article 2 does not include Marrett Square in the MBTA Communities Act zoning. The HPB discussed residential versus mixed use development in Marrett Square, noting that parking is a major issue for a developer considering mixed use development. 4. Discussion and HPB next steps for Article #2 to Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw Mr. Hornig recommended that the HPB defer extensive action until after the Feb. 26 Planning Board meeting, as Article 2 may be modified. Ms. Weiss made the point that the HPB should still encourage people opposed to Article 2 to express their opinions at the Planning Board meeting. The goal of speaking at the meeting is to convince the Planning Board to oppose Article 2, at least in its current form. Ms. Prosnitz noted that the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) has written a long document explaining their opposition to Article 2. A member of the AHT will summarize the document at the Planning Board meeting and will send out their document after the meeting. If appropriate, the AHT will modify their document to reflect any changes to Article 2. Mr. Zhao noted that concern has been expressed to the Council on Aging by a number of seniors regarding the impact of the planned development on the school system. Ms. Manz said that she had received a memo that some people from Lexington have written that addresses some of the points discussed about Article 2. Ms. Manz will forward the memo to the HPB members. She asked that the members review it and see what they can draw from it. The HPB discussed the Appropriations Committee report on impacts to Town finances of the new developments and identified shortcomings within that report. Ms. Weiss noted that the HPB needs to address the issues raised by the Article 2 proponents, many of which are based on, as the HPB understands it, incorrect information. Ms. Manz stressed the need to also address the positives of the new developments. Mr. Zhao noted that many seniors are worried about substantial increases in their taxes due to the new developments. If there are substantial increases, some seniors may be forced out of their homes. Ms. Prosnitz pointed out that an unintended consequence of Article 2 may be to speed up development: that developers who seek to use the current zoning will accelerate their plans to build housing before the current zoning is modified per Article 2. Mr. Hornig said that seven preliminary subdivision plans have been filed since February 1, more than had been filed in all of 2024. More preliminary subdivision plans may be filed. Ms. Manz asked the HPB for volunteers to speak to allay fears regarding MBTA Community Act zoning and to ask the Planning Board for an alternative to Article 2. The alternative would reduce the amount of land zoned under the Act, but not to the extent it is reduced in Article 2. The HPB agreed to meet to plan a follow-up on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 pm on Zoom based on the results of the February 26 Planning Board meeting. 5. Liaison Reports and Updates The HPB did not hear liaison reports at this meeting. 6. Working Group updates The HPB did not have working group updates at this meeting. 7. Update on dissolution of Housing Foundation The intent is to dissolve the Lexington Housing Foundation (LHF) with no funds. This is a much easier process than dissolving the LHF if it has funds remaining at the time of dissolution. The state has agreed that we can donate the funds to LexHAB and then dissolve without funds. Jeri Foutter, Mary Haskell, and Ms. Cohen constitute the LHF Board of Directors. They will meet on April 2 to formally dissolve the LHF. They will follow up with the appropriate paperwork. 8. New Business Mr. Pressman noted that the Capital Expenditure Committee will have negative comments related to the AHT. The committee wants to see fewer funds allocated to the AHT. 9. Set Next Meeting date The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 4. 10. HPB Adjournment Ms. Cohen moved adjournment. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 10-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.