HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-04-AHTBT-min.pdf
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of September 4, 2025 10:00 am
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in the Select Board Meeting
Room, Town Office Building
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Linda Prosnitz, Tiffany
Payne, Mark Sandeen, William Erickson
Staff present: Ragi Ramachandran, Administrative Assistant; Elizabeth Rust, RHSO Director;
Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development, joined the meeting in progress
during item 5.
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 10:04 am.
1. Approve Meeting Minutes
Ms. Tung requested a motion to approve the Executive session minutes of 7/8/25 and 8/6/25,
and regular session minutes of 8/6/25 AHT meeting. Mr. Erickson moved. Ms. Payne seconded.
The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 4-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Payne – yes,
Sandeen – yes, Tung – yes). Ms. Prosnitz abstained. Meeting minutes approved.
2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
Ms. Prosnitz reported that the Housing Partnership Board met the week prior to go over housing
goals, and the discussions were continued to next meeting.
The Trustees will take a picture after the Trust meeting for FY25 Town Report.
Ms. Tung reported that on Sept. 9 2025, the Joint Committee of Revenue will hold a hearing on
transfer fee bills for both statewide and individual home rule petitions. The Trustees agreed to
Ms. Tung sending the Affordable Housing Trust’s support letter for transfer fee legislation, to the
Joint Committee of Revenue.
The Trustees agreed to meet remotely by zoom for an additional AHT meeting on Sept. 11, 2025
to discuss FY25 budget and expenses since the Town needs to close its books by September 12,
2025.
3. Town Report
The Trustees reviewed the draft Affordable Housing Trust FY25 Town report. The Trustees
discussed revisions to the report. Ms. Tung will incorporate the changes and send the final report
to the Town by September 8, 2025.
4. CPC Application
The meeting was attended by Caileen Foley, Executive Director of the Lexington Housing
Authority and Sarah Morrison, Executive Director of LexHAB. Ms. Foley shared details on LHA’s
ongoing projects, and discussed LHA’s initial thoughts on its upcoming CPC funding request. LHA
plans to apply for pre-development funding for the redevelopment of 17 single-family homes
scattered throughout the town. Ms. Foley explained that these 17 units are in the process of
being repositioned and ownership has been put into a separate LLC. She reported that since the
conversion, LHA have seen incredible cost savings, and those savings could be applied for
potential financing and leveraging that money towards other needs.
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For the redevelopment, Ms. Foley reported that LHA were considering options like townhouses
or larger developments rather than ADUs, with initial pre-development funding application
projection of about $100,000. Next year, LHA plans to convert 60 units of elderly housing at
Countryside Village to project-based voucher system.
The group reviewed the spreadsheet from FY26 CPC funding cycle, with financials and 5-year
budget projections. Ms. Foley agreed to update the Trust the following week on pre-
development funding estimates and LHA’s anticipated CPC funding request for the
redevelopment of the 17 sites.
Sarah Morrison shared the LexHAB updates. Construction on Douglas Road, which received
funding from the Affordable Housing Trust , is set to begin accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
construction in mid-October. LexHAB is planning a fundraiser on Oct. 23 2025, aiming to raise
$300,000 for the Douglas Road ADU project.
LexHAB received their federal approval as a 501(c)(3) organization. Ms. Morrison mentioned
analyzing 15 potential sites for ADU development in the future, leveraging new state laws and
individual fundraising opportunities.
Ms. Morrison expressed LexHAB’s continued reliance on local funds due to their inability to
access state or federal subsidies. The group discussed the potential for adding ADUs to LexHAB’s
properties. Ms. Morrison emphasized that all units would remain affordable. Ms. Morrison
agreed to provide LexHAB’s anticipated funding projections for the upcoming CPC funding cycle.
5. Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 Update
Causeway Development’s team were represented by Dave Traggorth, Causeway Development;
Christopher Cantin, Metrowest Engineering; Beth Whittaker, Jamie Pelletier and Daniel Kwon
from Merge Architects.
Mr. Traggorth shared updates on Lowell St affordable housing project. There was additional
surveying work, tree surveying, and soil analysis completed by Metrowest Engineering. Mr.
Traggorth reported that they have received the Project Eligibility letter from EOHLC.
The development team presented the modifications to the site layout. Mr. Traggorth explained
the changes to the initial site layout stating that the new site layout enabled better stormwater
management and road widening requirements while preserving a central green space. Mr.
Traggorth reported that the revised plan had one less building, reduced impervious surfaces, and
improved green space connectivity. He discussed how the new design reduced retaining walls,
preserved more tree cover particularly along Lowell Street, and provided effective stormwater
management by keeping water on-site.
Mr. Traggorth stated that the new site plan featured a new three-story community room building
with four residential units, three similar residential buildings, and 60 parking spaces for 40 units.
He discussed the layout of the development, including a natural playscape, pavilion, and
pathways connecting to the community room. The unit mix included 14 one-bedrooms, 18 two-
bedrooms, and 8 three-bedrooms.
Mr. Traggorth reported that Causeway’s team had reviewed the revised plan with the town’s
Development Review Team. It was well received with positive feedback from town staff and the
fire department with particular appreciation for the green space and views from residential units.
Mr. Traggorth highlighted that the revised plan conforms to EOHLC requirements and that all
units would have at least two exposures, providing natural light and fresh air.
The Trustees reviewed the new site layout in detail. They appreciated the creativity, responsible
approach, and thoughtful design. A concern was raised about the functionality of the three-
bedroom units for families, particularly regarding living space and common areas. The
development team acknowledged regulatory constraints on unit sizes but assured that the units
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would be functional, with potential adjustments like a movable island and a larger shared
bathroom.
There was discussion on property management and layout of parking spaces. The revised parking
plan continues to provide a dedicated parking space per unit with each of the 3 main buildings of
12 units to have 10 covered spaces and 2 uncovered spaces.
The Trustees expressed support for the new site layout. They acknowledged how the new site
plan addresses community concerns about preserving trees, open space, and buffer zones while
providing more green areas and better stormwater management.
Mark Lang, 2 Opi Circle expressed disappointment about the project's massing and questioned
the need for significant redesign of the site layout. Mr. Lang asked when there will be a
community meeting to review the new site layout, when would the stormwater plan be ready
for review by neighbors, and the timing for Zoning Board of Appeals filing.
Mr. Traggorth clarified that the new design provided improved stormwater management and
green space. Responding to Mr. Lang’s questions, Mr. Traggorth stated that the development
team’s initial steps were to present the revisions to the Trust and Select Board, and ZBA filing and
community engagement process will follow.
The Trustees unanimously agreed to support and proceed with the revised site plan as presented
in the meeting. Ms. Tung will prepare a memorandum from the Trust to the to the Select Board
that the Trustees are in favor of the modified design.
6. Adjourn
Ms. Tung requested a motion to adjourn the Affordable Housing Trust Meeting. Mr. Sandeen
moved. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by roll call vote
(Payne – yes, Prosnitz- yes, Erickson- yes, Sandeen – yes, Tung- yes)
The meeting adjourned at 12:19 pm.
List of documents reviewed
1. Draft FY25 AHT Town Report
2. AHT BBFinancials FY25 Spreadsheet
3. Causeway Development’s presentation of the revised site layout for Lowell St
development