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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-18-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board Meeting Minutes for December 18, 2018 Attendees: Harriet Cohen, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,Jeri Foutter, Mary Haskell, Paul Linton,Wendy Manz, Bob Pressman, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss Absent: Rich McDonough Action Items: ■ Ms. Foutter will contact the Comprehensive Planning Process committee to ask for a representative of the committee to talk with the HPB at an HPB meeting. (Agenda Item 4) ■ Ms.Weiss will resend the description of the Town's three affordable housing related entities. (Agenda Item 6) ■ All members: provide comments on the housing entities descriptions by Dec. 21 (Agenda Item 6) ■ Ms. Foutter will find out how the members may add themselves (or be added to)the TMMA Google Group. (Agenda Item 9) ■ Ms. Foutter will contact Mr. Reyelt to discuss modifications to the presentation based on the comments and feedback from the HPB. (Agenda Item 10) ■ All members: send comments and feedback on the 40R/40S presentation as provided previously to the HPB. (Agenda Item 10) ■ Ms.Weiss will ask Mr. Pato as to where the funds from Brookhaven will go. (The clarification is requested as these funds are specifically for building new affordable units.) (Agenda Item 12) ■ Ms. Cohen will draft a letter to Lexington's state legislators supporting this legislation. She will send it to the HPB for review and then discussion at a subsequent HPB meeting. (Agenda Item 13) ■ Ms. Cohen will send a pointer to the Minneapolis 2040 Vision website.The 2040 plan strongly advocates for affordable housing. (Agenda Item 13) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Ms. Foutter and minutes were taken by Ms. Cohen.The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm. 1. Approve Prior Minutes The Board reviewed the minutes from the meetings of Oct. 16, 2018, Nov. 7, 2018, and Nov. 13, 2018.The date of the November meeting as noted in the minutes of Nov. 7 was corrected. Mr. McDonough was inadvertently omitted from the attendee list of the November 13 meeting and that omission was corrected. Mr. Pressmen moved approval of the minutes of Oct. 16, Nov. 7, and Nov. 13. Ms. Walker seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 2. National Development Proposal (Article 10-Waterstone& Bridges) Review a) Housing Partnership Board vote The meeting attendees did a quick recap to note that the HPB voted unanimously to support the Waterstone proposal. Ms. Foutter spoke in favor of the proposal at Town Meeting. Lexington Housing Partnership Board b) Change in Vote by Planning Board at Town Meeting(TM) Prior to the second Town Meeting discussion re National Development, the Planning Board voted 4 to 1 against the National Development proposal. c) Discussion and vote at TM The National Development proposal did not carry at the first vote. Mark Anderson asked for the motion to be carried over to the next Town Meeting.The Town Manager worked with National Development to add six attainable unit as well as funds for the town for potential ambulance services. In a subsequent vote,Town Meeting approved the rezoning requested by National Development. d) Since TM There has been no activity regarding Waterstone since Town Meeting. 3. 186 Bedford Street The Philip Ciampa Family("the Ciampas") have purchased the property at 186 Bedford Street. The property was assessed for$556,000.The Ciampas' proposal is to put retail on the first floor with apartments above.The Ciampas had originally proposed 30 units, but have since reduced the proposal to 16 units,with 2 affordable units.The Planning Board asked for 25%affordable units, but no agreement was reached with the Ciampas was reached as to the number of affordable units. All Planning Board members expressed willingness to allow the Ciampas to build on the site, but were not in favor of the proposal as presented. 4. Housing Partnership Board Input:Comprehensive Planning Process Mr. Pressman suggested that the HPB provide its input to the Comprehensive Planning Process. S. LexHAB request to CPC for rehab funds for existing units Ms. Walker reported that LexHAB has applied for approximately$99,000 for preservation and rehabilitation of units managed by LexHAB. In a straw vote,the CPC indicated its support for the request. 6. Lexington's three affordable housing committee descriptions In response to a request from a Town Meeting Member, Ms. Weiss drafted a memo describing the Lexington's three affordable housing committees.The HPB provided several comments which Ms. Weiss will incorporate into the description. Ms. Weiss will resend the description to the HPB for further comments.The deadline for comments is Friday, December 21. Ms. Weiss will incorporate any further comments and post to the Town Meeting Members website. 7. Discussion of affordable and attainable housing percentages for SPRD and TM The Special Permit Residential Development Ad Hoc committee will meet tomorrow, December 19, for a kick-off discussion. The HPB concluded it is premature to provide input to the committee. Ms. Weiss will is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee and will report back to the HPB. 8. Housing Partnership Board members and TMMs Ms. Weiss recommended that HPB members who are not already Town Meeting Members consider running for Town Meeting. Lexington Housing Partnership Board 9. Lexington TMMA Google Group Members of the Housing Partnership Board are eligible to participate in the TMMA Google Group. 10. 40 Rand 40S Ms. Foutter asked if the HPB had questions or comments regarding the proposed 40R/40S presentation to the Planning Board.The deadline for comments is Wednesday, December 26. Ms. Foutter will meet with William Reyelt, Principal Planner, Smart Growth Programs, DHCD, to discuss the HPB's feedback and to work with Mr. Reyelt on the presentation. Ms. Foutter met with Joe Pato regarding the presentation to the Select Board. Mr. Pato asked that the presentation be made to a joint meeting of the Select Board and the Planning Board. 11. Small Grants Program Ms. Foutter suggested that, given other HPB work,that the HPB defer work on the Small Grants program. 12. Housing Trust Mr. Pressman noted that the Lexington Housing Foundation is not a Housing Trust per the relevant Massachusetts statute, MA. Gen. Laws Ch. 44, Sec 55C. 13. Affordable Housing Newspaper Articles Ms. Walker and Ms.Thompson forwarded newspaper articles relevant to affordable housing. The article that Ms.Thompson forwarded is from the NY Times.The article discusses the need for housing for"boomers", i.e.,those born between 1948 and 1964.This reinforces the need for the housing proposed by National Development. Ms. Walker forwarded an article from the Boston Globe.The article describes a law proposed by Governor Baker to allow municipalities to change some zoning rules with a simple majority vote rather than two thirds of the town's governing body (as is required currently). Ms. Walker points out that zoning is one of the major impediments to social and economic inequality in our country.The two thirds majority required currently is a high bar to changing zoning regulations. 14. Housing Partnership Board Website Mr. Linton inquired as to whether we should continue to maintain the Housing Partnership Board website.The HPB concluded we should continue to maintain the website.The HPB also agreed that rather than posting the HPB meeting dates and minutes to the HPB website,the HPB website should direct viewers to the Lexington town website for that information. 15. New Business LexHAB is discussing next steps on the Leary property. 16. Set next meeting date The next meeting will be on Tuesday,January 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm. 17. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment. Ms.Thompson seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously.The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.