HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-03-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board
Meeting Minutes for January 22, 2019
Attendees: Harriet Cohen, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,Jeri Foutter, Paul Linton, Bob Pressman, Melanie
Thompson, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss
Absent: Rich McDonough, Mary Haskell, Wendy Manz
Action Items:
■ HPB members: review the material on the Lexington website regarding the 186 Bedford Street
development (list documents).
■ HPB members: review the material at the links provided by Jeri Foutter regarding the 40R and
40S legislation and please read about the Massachusetts starter home initiative (see this article
for a summary of the starter home initiative).
0 40R
■ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/chapter-40r
■ https://www.chapa.org/sites/default/files/TheUseofCh40R 2018.pdf
0 40S
■ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/chapter-40-s
■ http://www.concordsqdev.com/pdfs/050522 CHTF School Funding.pdf
o Housing Production Plan
■ Section VI -Goals and Objectives, p. 43-p. 53 - info for HPB and goals we can
work on.
■ p. 42 2.6 talks about modifying overlay districts
■ 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.)
■ Mr. Linton to post handouts at HPB meetings on the website to make them available for review
by HPB members and other interested parties.
■ [revised] 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.
o Revision: Chris Kluchman, former chair of the Housing Partnership Board, is the driving
force behind this legislation. We will invite Ms. Kluchman to provide an overview of this
legislation.
■ [complete] 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)
■ [complete] Ms.Weiss will resend the description of the Town's three affordable housing related
entities.
■ [complete] All members: provide comments on the housing entities descriptions by Dec. 21
■ [complete] Ms. Foutter will find out how the members may add themselves (or be added to)the
TMMA Google Group.
■ [complete] Ms. Foutter will contact Mr. Reyelt to discuss modifications to the presentation
based on the comments and feedback from the HPB.
Lexington Housing Partnership Board
■ [complete] All members: send comments and feedback on the 40R/40S presentation as
provided previously to the HPB.
■ [complete] Ms. Cohen will send a pointer to the Minneapolis 2040 Vision website.The 2040
plan strongly advocates for affordable housing.
The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by
Harriet Cohen.The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm.
1. Approve Prior Minutes
Minor amendments were made to the meeting minutes. Melanie Thompson moved approval of
the minutes as amended. Melinda Walked seconded the motion.The motion passed
unanimously.
Bob Pressmen moved approval of the minutes of Oct. 16, Nov. 7, and Nov. 13. Ms. Walker
seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously.
2. 186 Bedford Street
The Ciampas are proposing to build 13 housing units, of which 3 will be affordable.The abutters
are not in favor of the proposal.
Ms. Foutter requested that all HPB members review the material regarding 186 Bedford Street
that is posted on the Town website. Please come to the next meeting informed as to the
proposed development so that the Housing Partnership Board can debate a motion on the
proposed rezoning.
3. Lexington's Three Affordable Housing Committee Descriptions
At the request of Town Meeting, Ms.Weiss shared with Town Meeting members on January 5
the description of the three affordable housing committees. Hard copy of the descriptions was
distributed at HPB meeting.
4. Discussion of affordable and attainable housing percentages for SPRD and TM
Betsey Weiss is a member of the Special Permit Residential Development Zoning Bylaw
Amendment Ad Hoc committee (SPRD Ad Hoc).The Board of Selectmen formed the SPRD Ad
Hoc committee as a follow-up to Matt Daggett's proposal for a revision of SPRD.The goal of the
committee is to develop guidelines for special permit and balanced housing developments that
provide clear guidance to builders who might choose to undertake such developments. The
committee is currently setting its goals and planning its work.
S. Housing Partnership Board members and TMMS
Ms.Thompson informed the HPB that she is running for Town Meeting.
6. Lexington TMMA Google Group
Ms. Foutter contacted the TMMA list moderator.The moderator said that only town meeting
members may post. Committee members who are not town meeting members are observers
only and may not post to the list.
Lexington Housing Partnership Board
7. 40R and 40S,Starter Home Initiative and Housing Production Plan
Ms. Foutter sent links with further information on Chapter 40R and Chapter 40S. Please read the
information at these links so that we can have a discussion about these topics.Also please read
about the Starter Home initiative.
Mr. Reyelt from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has updated
his 40R and 40S presentation based on the feedback from the HPB, as well as other input. Ms.
Foutter has contact Mr. Reyelt to obtain an updated presentation. Ms. Foutter is in discussions
with Joe Pato about sponsoring a presentation by Mr. Reyelt about 40R and 40S to a joint
meeting of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen. The presentation would be
informational only and would not ask for any action from either the Planning Board or the Board
of Selectmen.The goal is to provide background to the two boards on the legislation.
Ms. Foutter asked for suggestions regarding the aligning of the HPB's goals with those in the
Housing Production Plan.
Ms. Weiss suggested that we obtain the number of net new housing units in Lexington from
2016 through 2018. We could use 10%of that number to determine how many additional
affordable housing units would be needed to keep ahead of the 40B requirements.
Ms. Weiss also suggested revisiting the potentially buildable lots in town for affordable housing.
Ms. Walker suggested a goal related to age-related housing. Ms. Walker suggested providing
guidance per state law regarding what is permissible and what is not regarding age-related
housing.
8. New Business
Ms. Foutter reached out to Carol Kowalski (Assistant Town Manager for Development)to ask
that a member of the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee participate in a meeting
with the HPB.That action item continues in process.
Ms. Foutter requested that Paul Linton, HPB webmaster, post HPB handouts on the HPB
website.The HPB agreed that minutes would be posted only on the Town website and no longer
on the HPB website.This would provide a resource both for the HPB and for the Town.
9. Set Next Meeting Date
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21.
10. Adjournment
Ms. Weiss moved adjournment of the meeting. Ms.Thompson seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.