HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-04 Joint BOS and HPB-min
Joint Meeting
Board of Selectmen and Housing Partnership Board
November 4, 2019
A Joint Meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen and Housing Partnership Board was called
to order at 8:32 p.m. on Monday, November 4, 2019 in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town
Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Barry; Ms. Hai;
and Mr. Sandeen were present, as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town
Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk.
Present for the Housing Partnership Board were: Jeri Foutter, Chair; Bob Peters, Planning Board
Liaison; Betsey Weiss, Vice-Chair; Harriet Cohen, Clerk; Bob Pressman; Wendy Manz, Capital
Expenditures Committee Liaison; Melanie Thompson; and Paul Linton.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1. Presentation on Chapter 40R & Chapter 40S - Smart Growth Districts
The Board of Selectmen and the Housing Partnership Board met to discuss Chapter 40R and
Chapter 40S - Smart Growth Districts.
Mr. Lucente stated that the presentation will be made by Mark Racicot, Director of the Land Use
Division at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
Mr. Racicot stated that Chapter 40R is a voluntary program for individual municipalities to provide
options to adopt and implement zoning that allows for compact, mixed-income, by-right
development in areas with existing or planned infrastructure. The minimum affordability
component would be 20% of the units and the affordable units would have to be dispersed
proportionally throughout the development. This type of development would have to be in an
existing area with public infrastructure and adequate water, sewer, and roadways to serve it. The
development would have better access to retail and services by offering both direct and indirect
financial incentives, as well as a tool to better manage residential growth. The one-time zoning
incentive payment to the municipality would be based on the size of the district and the total
potential increased number of housing units. The amount ranges from $10,000 for a small site to
$600,000 for a large site with a lot of units. There is a second payment when the building permit
is issued for the building units. Chapters 40R and 40S serve to reimburse cities and towns for the
additional costs of educating new school-age children in smart growth districts.
Mr. Racicot explained that the area of concentrated development has to contain at least 50% of an
existing commercial/mixed-use zone and at least 50% must also be previously developed
(characterized by substantially developed land, even if such land qualifies as underutilized). The
non-commercial portions of an Area of Concentrated Development cannot exceed 50% of the
district. The Town would not be allowed to put age restrictions on the residential portion of the
units.
Mr. Sandeen inquired if the Chapter 40S payments were a one-time incentive like the Chapter 40R
zoning incentive payment.
Mr. Racicot explained that the Town would apply for the Chapter 40S incentive payment annually,
but Lexington would likely not be eligible.
Mr. Pato expressed that the information in the presentation would benefit the Comprehensive Plan
Advisory Committee as they are currently reworking the Comprehensive Plan.
Ms. Foutter inquired if there were a timeline for when the area has been zoned to when the building
begins and if the State would follow up on the status of the project. She also inquired if there were
asset limits for the Chapter 40R, in addition to the income limits.
Mr. Pressman inquired if there were any Chapter 40R districts that involve the reuse an office
building rather than a mill or manufacturing structure.
Ms. Weiss expressed that she is hoping for Chapter 40R to be a part of the Hartwell Avenue process
as mixed-use or residential and commercial.
Mr. Peters iterated that the funding would be from the State Housing Bond and not the General
Fund.
David Kanter, Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member, expressed concern regarding the difficulty of
incorporating these types of developments within the Lexington community due to the high
density. He mentioned that he would like to see a feasibility review done.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to close the Joint
Meeting at 9:14 p.m. The Housing Partnership Board voted the same.
A true record; Attest:
Stacey Prizio
Department Assistant