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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-13-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for March 13, 2025 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Wendy Manz (Chair), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Joyce Murphy, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), John Zhao (COA) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Bob Pressman Guest: Beth Levine, Dawn McKenna 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 5:01 pm. The roll was called. 2. Discussion and next steps after March 12, 2025 Planning Board Hearing on Article 2 to Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to Reduce Multi Family Dwelling Unit Capacity Mr. Hornig reviewed the proposed changes to the zoning as shown in the map in Article 2. The HPB reviewed the text of the article, with Mr. Hornig and Ms. McKenna providing explanations in response to the discussion and to questions from the HPB. The article was presented to the Select Board on Monday, March 10. Three Select Board members took a position in support of the article; two members did not take a position. The Planning Board signed off on the article on Wednesday, March 12. Ms. Weiss reported that the Lexington Center Committee had met and voted by 6-1-0 that they wanted Lexington Center to remain in the bylaw. Ms. McKenna said that it was their commitment to bring an article regarding Lexington Center housing forward at the right time. There was further discussion on Lexington Center zoning, both to clarify current Lexington Center zoning and the zoning under Article 2 and to understand concerns by the HPB and the proponents of Article 2 regarding Center zoning. Ms. Weiss also expressed her concern about the reduced number of housing units that could be built with Article 2 zoning and that developers were likely to build larger, more expensive housing units as a result of the density changes. She also noted that developers were likely to build fewer inclusionary units. Several HPB members expressed their appreciation to Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Abby McCabe (Town Planning Director), and to the proponents of Article 2 for their work on the compromise article. The HPB then discussed whether the Board should vote to support Article 2 as currently proposed. Ms. Byrnes expressed concern that, as a Board whose charge calls for it to promote and support production and preservation of housing, including low and moderate income, housing for older persons, and workforce housing, the HPB should not be in favor of an article that so greatly reduces the number of housing units that can be built under the MBTA Communities Act zoning. Ms. Weiss echoed Ms. Byrnes’ concerns. Ms. Thompson pointed out that, given the current proposals under review and approved, that a substantial amount of housing is likely to be built. She also noted that this proposal is a vote for housing, albeit not as much as the HPB would like to see. The HPB continued its discussion of the points in favor of voting in support of Article 2, to vote against support of Article 2, or to not take a vote on Article 2. 3. Vote on Article 2 Compromise The HPB took a vote on whether to favor the Article 2 compromise as presented to the HPB. Those voting in favor are Mr. Zhao, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Morrison, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Linton, and Ms. Manz. Three board members abstained: Mr. Hornig, Ms. Weiss, and Ms. Byrnes. No member voted not in favor. Ms. Manz noted that an amendment to add the center business district back into the overlay zoning will be offered at Town Meeting. This was followed by discussion about what votes would be needed at Town Meeting and which votes would require a simple majority and which a two thirds majority. Ms. McKenna noted that she thought the amendment to add the center business district back into the overlay zoning felt very against the whole compromise proposal. 4. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be March 17 at 5:00 pm. The meeting may be in person or on Zoom, depending on the availability of a meeting space in Cary Memorial Hall. 5. HPB Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment. 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. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm.