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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-04-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for March 4, 2025 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Wendy Manz (Chair), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Paul Linton, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), John Zhao (COA) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Joyce Murphy Guest: Carol Kowalski (Assistant Town Manager for Development), Jerry Michaelson (Lexington Center Committee), Linda Prosnitz (Affordable Housing Trust), Elaine Tung (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 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Discussion of Planning Board hearing of February 26, 2025; Planning Board alternative to Article 2; Planning Board discussions with proponents of Article 2 Ms. Thompson said that the Planning Board had met today with the proponents of Article 2. Ms. Thompson opened the meeting with her statement about the disgraceful way in which the Lexington Planning Department staff and Planning Board members have been treated by some in the community. Ms. Thompson asked the Article 2 proponents if they would sign the letter, but the proponents said they would have to review it further before signing it. Ms. Thompson shared the statement with the HPB. Ms. Hai offered that the Select Board would almost certainly sign on to the letter. The proponents had not signed the statement by the time of the HPB meeting. Ms. Weiss made a motion that the HPB completely support the statement by Ms. Thompson about the past few weeks and the tenor of the election season. Mr. Linton seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the motion. Subsequently, Mr. Zhao made a motion that the HPB support the statement by Ms. Thompson as written or with minor changes. Ms. Byrnes seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 8-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting between the Planning Board and Planning Department staff and the Article 2 proponents then moved to a discussion of Article 2 as revised by the proponents and the Planning Board’s proposed revisions. While the Planning Board had recommended significant revisions, only a few changes had been made by the proponents. The Planning Board tried to address the proponents’ concerns about the current MBTA Communities Act zoning. The Planning Board members and staff and the proponents agreed on a few minor changes. The proponents seemed to be unwilling to make any substantive changes to Article 2. There will be a follow-up meeting tomorrow to continue the discussion on the revisions to Article 2. The HPB expressed concerns that Article 2 as revised by the proponents is still not compliant with EOHLC requirements. Ms. Hai said that the Center Committee is very much in favor of including the town center in the MBTA Act zoning, although not part of the MBTA acreage. They will speak with the Article 2 proponents next week to ask the proponents to add the center back into the districting proposed in Article 2. Mr. Michaelson joined the meeting to provide the latest information from the Lexington Center Committee. Mr. Michaelson said that the Center Committee is strongly in favor of more housing in Lexington Center. Ms. Thompson and Mr. Michaelson discussed the possible impact of housing development near the intersection of Bedford and Worthen Streets on Lexington Center. Mr. Michaelson had not previously considered the issue. His initial thought is that that would not be a problem. Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB support a Planning Board amendment, either friendly or unfriendly, about Article 2. Mr. Pressman seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Heitz, Mr. Linton, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz, Ms. Byrnes Against: <none> Abstain: Mr. Zhao The motion passes by a vote of 8-0-1. Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB oppose Article 2 as it was presented on February 26. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Heitz, Mr. Linton, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz Against: Mr. Zhao Abstain: Ms. Byrnes The motion passes by a vote of 7-1-1. Ms. Tung recapped a discussion between the Appropriations Committee and Town Manager Steve Bartha. The Appropriations Committee and the consultant hired by the Town had come to different conclusions regarding the impact of MBTA Communities Act housing, in part because of differing assumptions in the modeling. 3. Next steps Ms. Weiss then discussed the action item to contact Town Meeting Members regarding votes on Article 2 and an Article 2 amendment. Ms. Manz suggested deferring work on the action items until an HPB meeting during the following week. Ms. Byrnes suggested waiting until after the Planning Board makes its recommendation. 4. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on March 7 from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm on Zoom. A following meeting will be on March 7 from 5:00 pm to 6:15 pm on Zoom.. 5. New Business Ms. Byrnes will send the draft Housing Needs Assessment to the HPB. Ms. Byrnes asked that members send comments to her directly. 6. HPB Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment. Ms. Byrnes seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 0-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 9:07 pm.