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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-21-AHTBT-min.pdf Page 1 of 3 Affordable Housing Trust Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2026, 11:00 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; William Erickson, Mark Sandeen, Linda Prosnitz (joined during the Executive session at 11:08 am) Absent: Tiffany Payne Staff present: Ragi Ramachandran, Administrative Assistant Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 11:01 am. Executive Session Ms. Tung moved for the Affordable Housing Trust to go into Executive session under Exemption 6 to consider the purchase or lease of real property regarding MBTA Multi-Family Development Buy-downs. The Affordable Housing Trust Chair stated that, in her opinion, an open session would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town and Affordable Housing Trust. Ms. Tung stated that the Trust will reconvene in the open session after the Executive session. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 3-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Sandeen – yes, Tung – yes). The Trust exited the open session at 11:03 am. The Trust reconvened in open session at 12:12 pm. 1. Approve Meeting Minutes The meeting minutes approval was postponed to next meeting. 2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report Ms. Payne reported that LHA is transitioning Countryside Village to Section 8 housing vouchers and LHA is also planning a capital needs assessment. There is a tenant board member vacancy in Countryside Village. Finally, LHA is planning on coming to the Trust for pre-development funding for one of its properties. Mr. Sandeen reported about the Housing Partnership Board’s presentation to the Select Board on May 11, 2026, outlining recommendations for the Town’s housing policies and strategies. The Select Board suggested HPB collaborate with Planning Board and various stakeholders including LHA, LexHAB, and the Affordable Housing Trust in their work. Ms. Tung added that the HPB were planning to ask the Select Board for more directions on the housing policy items that they should be pursuing. The HPB plans to hold community forums and meet with the Select Board twice yearly. Ms. Tung reported project updates for 131 Hartwell Avenue, 439 Marrett Road and 114 Wood Street from the Planning Board meeting. Ms. Tung reported that the Metropolitan Area Planning Council MAGIC region Municipal Affordable Housing Trust’s (MAPC MAHT) meeting series concluded on May 21, 2026. She shared Page 2 of 3 that there is a white paper draft that needs to be reviewed by the Trustees and finalized for content related to the Trust’s work. MAPC is planning to publish the final paper by the end of June 2026. Bob Pressman commented that Housing Partnership Board’s recommendation for Town zoning revisions will need to be reviewed with the Planning Board. 3. Pilot Rental Assistance Program Ms. Prosnitz reported that there is more work required for the documents from Metro West and therefore there is a delay in rolling out the Program. Ms. Prosnitz and Ms. Payne will continue to work with Metro West on finalizing the Pilot Rental Assistance Program documents, addressing outstanding comments, and aim for resolution by the first week of June 2026. 4. AHT Form Application for Funding This item was tabled to be discussed at the next AHT meeting. 5. AHT Strategic Plan Development Mr. Sandeen presented on planning the Trust’s Strategic Plan Development. Mr. Sandeen presented examples from other towns, including Arlington's comprehensive 47-page plan with a 2-page summary, Southborough's finance-focused approach, Gloucester’s strategy to create 60 affordable units over the next 5 years, and Wellfleet's concise 1-page strategy. Mr. Sandeen suggested that the Trust may need to reconsider its original plan to conduct a detailed gap analysis to identify the highest unmet demand. Mr. Sandeen recommended potentially moving away from extensive gap analysis and instead using available funds to directly create affordable housing. Mr. Sandeen presented data that based upon current AHT work, funding levels of $2-3 million annually would only create approximately 9 new deed-restricted units per year, making it impossible to reach the goal of 502 new units needed for a true 10% affordable housing goal within a reasonable time frame. The Trustees discussed the need to establish AHT funding guidelines leveraging funds from state, local, federal, nonprofit, and private sources. Mr. Sandeen suggested that achieving the true 10% affordable goal would require approximately $7 million annually in funding to deliver 400 units in 20 years. To achieve AHT goals, the Trust needs to secure a commitment for consistent long-term CPA funding. The Trustees discussed the importance of developing a housing preservation plan to maintain existing deed restrictions and address capital needs for older affordable housing units. The Trustees also discussed goals, funding priorities, and preservation versus creation of affordable housing units. The Trust agreed to prioritize establishing clear goals before discussing specific strategies and funding priorities. 6. Any other business that may properly come before the Trustees which could not be reasonably anticipated The Trust voted to sign the letter of support for Economic Development Office’s Community One Stop for Growth application regarding parking, multimodal circulation, and deliveries in Lexington Center. Ms. Tung moved that the Affordable Housing Trust authorize the AHT Chair to sign the support letter for Economic Development office’s One Stop for Growth application regarding parking, multimodal circulation, and deliveries in Lexington Center. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 4-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Tung – yes). Page 3 of 3 Adjourn: Ms. Sandeen moved to adjourn the Affordable Housing Trust Meeting. Ms. Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in favor unanimously by a roll call vote 4-0 (Sandeen – yes, Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Tung - yes.). The meeting adjourned at 1:23 pm. List of documents reviewed Affordable Housing Trust Strategic Plan Discussion 5-2026 Final