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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-30-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for April 30, 2025 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), , Wendy Manz (Chair), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), John Zhao (COA) Absent: Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Sarah Morrison, Joyce Murphy 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 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Review of PB Housing Related TM articles Ms. Manz noted that it was heartening that Town Meeting approved the article to allow the Select Board to issue an RPF for affordable housing on Vine Street. Ms. Manz also noted that the amendment she and Ms. Weiss to Article 2 to retain the original MBTA Communities Act zoning in Lexington Center was defeated. Mr. Hornig reported that Article 2 was passed. It rolled back the original zoning to zoning that is much less friendly to new housing development, including inclusionary housing. Current projects may still go forward. He also said that Article 30 was brought by the Planning Board with a goal of changing the way that inclusionary units in SPRDs are calculated. Mr. Daggett proposed an amendment that would require more inclusionary housing. The amendment was passed by Town Meeting. There is a chance that the change may discourage new SPRD development by making such development economically infeasible. Article 34 added several requirements to mixed use projects in the VO district. The changes may promote more residential housing and less mixed-use development. In response to questions, Mr. Hornig said that of 9 projects submitted to the Planning Board under the MBTA Communities Act zoning, the Planning Board had finished reviewing 7 of them. He also said that the project at 17 Hartwell Avenue has received their building permit and appears to be moving forward. Although not related to articles at Town Meeting, Mr. Hornig noted that the appeal regarding the Piper Road project has been dismissed. There is no longer a legal impediment to creating this housing on Piper Road. 3. Follow-up of Housing Needs Assessment Report The Housing Needs Assessment Report Committee received a great deal of feedback on the report. To the extent possible in the timeframe, the report was revised to reflect feedback and will be reviewed shortly by the Committee. After this latest revision, no further work will be done as there is no budget for additional work on the report. Mr. Hornig provided an MAPC report that prioritized affordable housing needs. It is a regional assessment rather than a Lexington-specific assessment. After the report is finalized, the Committee will determine how to promote and distribute the report. Mr. Zhao suggested that the Committee present the report to the COA. Ms. Byrnes thought that was a good idea and would perhaps extend that to other Town meetings. 4. Review of CHAPA March Affordable Housing Seminar Ms. Thompson reviewed particularly relevant content from the seminar. The HPB discussed summarizing the key information from the seminar and communicating information within the Town. Ms. Prosnitz informed the HPB that the Area Median Income has gone up slightly as of April 1. 5. Reports from Working Groups 1. Advocating for creation of housing units so seniors can age in place: the working group needs to reconvene to determine next steps. 2. Reviewing Affordable Homes Act re ADUs: There was an ADU forum co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters on April 4. The forum was well attended, and attendees asked many questions. Members of the working group worked with the Town to update the website to put all current and correct information about ADUs on a single web page at the Town website. Ms. Thompson created an ADU explainer. There will be an ADU builder at the Town “Aging in Place” fair to provide information to an audience that might not otherwise be informed about ADUs. The working group will discuss further steps in May. 3. Reviewing report of Housing Needs Assessment Committee: this was covered in the agenda item regarding the Housing Needs Assessment Report. 4. Advocating for RETF and a larger allocation from CPA: now that Town Meeting is over, the group will continue their efforts on passage of the RETF bills and obtaining a larger allocation for housing from the CPA funding. 6. Liaison Reports ● CPA: Mr. Pressman has sent a report of the Community Preservation Committee. At this time, there is no money in the housing “bucket” of the CPA. Community housing will need to seek funding from the undesignated bucket. Two projects could have some implication for community housing having access to that funding: additional funding needed for a Munroe Center project and the large amount of funding requested for the Stone Library restoration. 7. Update on Dissolution of the Lexington Housing Foundation (LHF) Ms. Cohen reported that the LHF Board met, reviewed the paperwork necessary for the dissolution, and then voted for dissolution. The remaining funds of about $8,100 had been disbursed to LexHAB, which had an immediate use for them. Ms. Morrison has acknowledged receipt of the funds. Ms. Cohen will submit the dissolution paperwork to the Attorney General’s Office. 8. Review and Approve Minutes The HPB discussed the process for reviewing and commenting on the minutes. While the minutes have been provided in Google Docs, there was some misunderstanding about the process for providing comments. The process was discussed, and the appropriate updates will be made. 9. New Business The Affordable Housing Trust is considering a community housing summit. If the AHT moves forward with this idea, they would like to work with the HPB on the summit. Ms. Weiss sent out a brief description of each of the housing-related organizations within the Town. The HPB suggested a few updates. Ms. Weiss will follow up. The description is a work in progress. 10. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. 11. HPB Adjournment Ms. Heitz moved adjournment. Ms. Cohen 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 8:48 pm.