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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-16-HPB-min.pdfLexington Housing Partnership Board Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for June 16, 2026 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes (Chair), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Ravneet Grewal, Sandra Hackman (COA), Chris Herbert, Christina Lin (Human Rights Committee), Paul Linton (Vice -Chair), Wendy Manz, Joyce Murphy, Linda Prosnitz (AHT liaison), Michael Schanbacher, Russ Tanner (LexHAB), Betsey Weiss (Vice -Chair) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Vineeta Kumar (Select Board liaison), Melanie Thompson Guests: Robert Pressman, Elaine Tung (AHT), Melinda Walker The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Nanette Byrnes and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Byrnes called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Discuss and vote on DRAFT HPB letter to SB re 116 Vine St Ms. Cohen reviewed the letter regarding Vine St. The HPB then discussed the letter. Ms. Hackman suggested adding wording regarding senior housing. The HPB discussed whether such wording should be included. Ms. Cohen said that she and Ms. Weiss would be meeting with Jill Hai, Select Board Chair, to discuss the letter. The goal is to get a sense of the Select Board's thinking and her personal thinking. Ms. Cohen said she would update the HPB following the meeting. The HPB agreed to postpone a vote to the next meeting. 3. CHAPA's Municipal Engagement Initiative (MEI) Summer /Fall Cohort Ms. Cohen gave an overview of the MEI program and Lexington's participation. Ms. Manz said that, as the sub -committee she is chairing is focused on community engagement, it would have been helpful if she had been notified about this effort. Ms. Cohen said she would inquire with CHAPA as to whether someone from the subcommittee could be added to the Lexington team. Ms. Cohen said that, with the permission of CHAPA, she will share all MEI materials with the team and review the progress with the HPB. 4. Letter to the Planning Board regarding the 80 Bedford development According to the zoning by-law, the developer of the 80 Bedford Street development must provide 4.65 affordable units. The by-law allows the developer to round down to four units. This letter asks the developer to provide five affordable units. Ms. Weiss moved support to send the letter to the Planning Board with a minor edit as discussed at the HPB. Ms. Manz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 11-0-0 to approve the motion. 5. Discuss and prioritize HPB's four housing policies' next steps spreadsheet Ms. Byrnes provided a spreadsheet with next steps to follow up on the HPB's presentation on affordable housing and missing middle housing to the Select Board. Ms. Cohen had several concerns regarding the spreadsheet. Ms. Grewal clarified several issues with respect to the item Lexington Housing Partnership Board regarding 40Y zoning. The HPB discussed additional refinements to the spreadsheet. The HPB made the point that the Planning Board needs to be an integral part of the work on zoning. Mr. Pressman inquired as to whether, per the spreadsheet, someone is currently working on identifying Town -owned land. Mr. Pressman noted that a very large number of Town -owned parcels have been designated as conservation land. Ms. Byrnes asked for comments to continue to be sent to her and that work would continue on the spreadsheet. Ms. Byrnes suggested that we think about priorities for the HPB work. 6. Liaison reports Planning Board: Mr. Schanbacher said that 80 Bedford Street will be before the Planning Board on June 24. He also said that 16 Clarke Street would be presented to the Historic District Commission (HDC) and the developer seemed to think there was a path to approval from the HDC. The Planning Board approved a modification to the Piper Road project. The initial set of applications for the original MBTA Communities Act zoning has been cleared. Council on Aging: Ms. Hackman, Ms. Tung, and Ms. Manz and several others met to discuss the possibility of obtaining a state grant for seniors to age in place. The Planning Director asked for COA's input on the 80 Bedford Street development. The COA will recommend that the developer review the resolution from Town Meeting regarding accessibility requirements. Human Rights Committee: Ms. Lin said that the committee was looking into a working group on housing from the perspective of the HRC. One of the first efforts will be to create a web page on tenant rights and fair housing. Affordable Housing Trust: Ms. Prosnitz said that the rental assistance pilot program will be launched in the next few days. It will be run by Metrowest Collaborative Development. It is intended to aid rental households that are cost burdened (i.e., paying more than 30% of their income for rent). This is a six-month program for people who are in units they can reasonably afford. The program is to provide interim assistance, not a long-term program for the recipients. The AHT is still talking to developers about buydowns. They are starting work on strategic planning. Ms. Prosnitz also mentioned that both LexHAB and Causeway have applications into the state for their funding round. LexHAB: Mr. Tanner said that LexHAB received strong support from Town Meeting for their CPC requests. The money is needed for basic operations and capital improvements. LexHAB units are being converted to electric heat pumps. LexHAB is finishing two units on Douglas Road, including Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs). LexHAB has applied for EOHLC funding for 3 ADUs and for work on a house that was donated to LexHAB. Lexington Housing Partnership Board LexHAB is currently refreshing their lottery list which was outdated and needs to be updated with current need. 7. Review and approve minutes for May 19th, 2026 Ms. Hackman moved approval of the minutes pending minor edits. Mr. Linton seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of In favor: Ms. Murphy, Mr. Schanbacher, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Manz, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Linton, Ms. Hackman, Ms. Byrnes Against: <none> Abstain: Mr. Herbert 8. New Business Ms. Walker alerted the HPB to a concern regarding the Historical Commission (HC). The commission wants to put the following buildings on the Lexington Comprehensive Cultural Resource Inventory: Fisk Elementary, Harrington Elementary, Jonas Clarke Middle School, William Diamond Middle School, and the former Parker School, now the Parker Manor Condominiums. If a building is put on the Cultural Resources Survey, the HC has jurisdiction over any exterior changes to the building. Construction work that satisfies the HC has historically been more expensive and more onerous because of the HC requirements. This will pose a financial burden to the condominiums, which include 11 LexHAB and LHA affordable units out of 28 units, so 39% are affordable units and puts the preservation of those units in jeopardy. Mr. Tanner noted that a lot of the elements that remain on the exterior of that building are not historic or are no longer historic. This calls into question as to why the HC should have jurisdiction over those elements. For example, the windows are over 40 years old and the current plan is to replace them with current technology windows. If the HC has control over these elements, then the HC could require double -hung windows which, given current building codes, would be very difficult to find at the scale needed for the condominiums. Ms. Walker and Mr. Tanner both asked members of the HPB to attend the HC meeting on June 17 to add their voices to not adding the Parker School Condominiums on the Cultural Resources Survey. Mr. Linton recognized Ms. Tung's work above and beyond to get signatures in support of the proposed small lot size ballot question. Ms. Byrnes notified that Ms. Heitz has resigned due to other commitments that are taking a substantial amount of time. Ms. Byrnes recognized her advocacy and commitment to housing. The HPB will need a new liaison to the AHT. Ms. Manz mentioned that she has been notified by the Select Board that they have had a very well-qualified individual apply for membership on the HPB. Ms. Byrnes has written a letter of support for that individual's candidacy. 9. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be in-person on July 21, the third Tuesday in July. Lexington Housing Partnership Board 10. HPB Adjournment Ms. Manz moved adjournment. Ms. Weiss 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 was adjourned at 9:06 pm.