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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-21-HPB-min Ɏ Lexington Housing Partnership Board Meeting Minutes for May 21, 2019 Attendees: Harriet Cohen, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti, Jeri Foutter, Paul Linton, Rich McDonough, Bob Pressman, Mark Sandeen, Melanie Thompson, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss Absent: Mary Haskell, Wendy Manz Attendees: Joe Pato, Hongsheng Tang Action Items: Ms. Walker to discuss comments on the Jefferson Drive flyer with Ms. Foutter and then work with Liz Rust of the Regional Housing Services Office (RHSO) regarding those comments. Mr. Linton to post a statement to the HPB website to indicate that the HPB Meeting Minutes Archives section. 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). o 40R https://www.mass.gov/service-details/chapter-40r https://www.chapa.org/sites/default/files/TheUseofCh40R_2018.pdf o 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.) \[completed\] Mr. Linton to post handouts at HPB meetings on the website to make them available for review by HPB members and other interested parties. 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 of March 20, 2019 and April 23, 2019 The HPB made a few minor corrections to the minutes of March 20. Ms. Walker moved approval of the minutes of March 20, 2019. Mr. Pressman seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Ms. Thompson moved approval of the minutes of April 23. Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. The motion was approved with one abstention. Ɏ Lexington Housing Partnership Board 2. 952 Waltham Street / Mr. Hongsheng Tang Mr. Tang explained the need for affordable housing in Lexington. He pointed out that the school age population is declining, as per the Comprehensive Plan research. He discussed the reasons for proposing affordable housing at 952 Waltham: close to shopping, public transportation, conservation land, and play areas. The project is consistent with the character of the neighborhood and only a single abutter, the owner of Wagon Wheel. The proposed development provides 22 parking spaces and room for a play area in the back. 3. Meeting Location and Timing Ms. Foutter polled the members as to their preferences for meeting location and duration (one hour limit, two hour limit, or no time limit for the meetings). In lieu of unlimited meeting times, for issues that require substantial debate, Ms. Foutter will set up separate sub-committee meetings. These will be public meetings, posted per Open Meeting law requirements, open to HPB members and any interested Lexington residents. The focus will be on meetings that develop specific actions and implementation plans for those actions so that we make substantial progress on the creation of affordable housing. 4. 186 Bedford Street Development / Betsey Weiss The Ciampas were present at the Planning Board on May 6 to hear the concerns of the Planning Board. They are now going to take the concerns into consideration for any revisions to the project. 5. Fairland Street Ms. Cohen summarized the discussion at the Planning Board meeting on May 8 regarding the Fairland Street project. Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti suggested that the Housing Partnership Board members read the minutes from the previous presentation of the Fairland Street project at the Planning Board. The meeting was held last January. 6. LexHAB / Bob Pressman LexHAB will be asking for proposals for pre-fab houses on Lowell Street (the Busa Farm project). Students are continuing to work on the Wright Farm house. Ms. Walker was contacted by Jennifer van Campen of MetroWest Development who asked Ms. Walker to pull numbers for a lottery for a waiting list for SHI housing held in the LexHAB inventory. 137 people were applying for a position on the list. The applicants did not have to be present at the lottery drawing. is for the entire LexHAB inventory. Ms. Walker said she will contact Jennifer Van Campen about the misunderstanding. Ɏ Lexington Housing Partnership Board 7. HPB letter - supporting Baker Act to Promote Housing Choices / Betsey Weiss Ms. Walker spoke to Michele Ciccolo regarding the Act. Ms. Ciccolo is in support of the bill. She suggested that Ms. Weiss contact Cindy Freedman, who represents part of Lexington in the state senate. Ms. Weiss moved that we write a letter in support of the Act and that we get a small committee to write it and also contact local housing advocacy organizations to ask them to also support the Act. Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti second the motion. 8. 40R and 40S Ms. Foutter is following up on the proposed educational session on Chapters 40R and 40S. Mr. Pato said he has submitted a request for the adding the educational seminar to a Select Board agenda. 9. Advocacy Plan The advocacy plan discussion was tabled. 10. New Business At a recent Select Board meeting, the town manager said that owner of the nursing home near Emerson Gardens will be proposing a friendly Chapter 40B development consisting of approximately 150 units. Jefferson Drive Local Initiative Program (LIP) application has not yet been acted upon by DHCD. Ms. Weiss suggested that the CPAC have a housing representative. Ms. Foutter contacted Carol Kowalski (the assistant Town Manager). Ms. Kowalski asked the HPB to provide a representative. Ms. Mercer announced last night at the Select Board meeting that she is resigning her position as the Town Planning Director. 11. Action Items There was no update regarding the action items. 12. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on June 25, 2019. 13. Adjournment Ms. Corcoran-Ronchetti proposed adjournment of the meeting. Ms. Cohen seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:56 pm.