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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-05-REPSC-min Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee (Ad hoc) Friday,April 5, 2019 Hudson Room, Cary Memorial Building Draft Minutes Attendance Mark Andersen (chair), Vicki Blier, Sara Bothwell Allen (acting secretary), Howard Cloth, Katie Cutler, Thomas Whelan, John Zhao, Joe Pato (Selectmen liaison). Resident observer: Robert Pressman Mr. Andersen called the meeting to order at 8:07AM. Ms. Bothwell Allen agreed to serve as acting secretary. Public Comment Period Mr. Pressman submitted several comments for Committee consideration by email ahead of today's meeting. Of particular consideration, with regard to the Report discussions of Katandin Woods and potential apartment to condominium conversions, Mr. Pressman said the comprehensive permit requires that if the owner want to convert to market rate condos, subsidized units must be offered to the Town or to LexHAB at much lower cost–a value set approximately 6-12 months after construction, though that value setting may not be happening at projects in town. Information on values that should have been set cannot be located by LexHAB members. Other factors may influence owner choice to convert units include legal costs, leases, ability of tenants to purchase the unit and pay condo fees, rehabilitation costs. If SRE did spur conversion to condos and offered subsidized units to the Town, this would present a substantial capital cost for the town. For example, if units were offered at $300,000 each, the cost would need to fund approximately $9,000,000. Approval of minutes The Committee approved, with minor edits, the minutes from the March 22, 2019 meeting. Draft final report discussion The Committee discussed the text of the entire Report as follows: Recommendations Mr. Cloth recommended a wording change in recommendation two—substitute "and/or" for "or" between the two model proposals to indicate enacting multiple tools may better support the target population. The Committee voted unanimously to approve this wording change. Executive Summary The Committee discussed several points of wording clarification throughout this portion of the report and agreed upon a few minor wording changes. Report Overall The Committee discussed several points of clarification throughout the rest of the document, and agreed upon additional text changes. Draft Abstract Inclusion Mr. Cloth presented a brief document entitled Primer for Lexington Residents he drafted to summarize the Committee's work overall, much shorter than the Executive Summary (which is 12 pages long). General agreement is that this is a helpful addition that may result in more community members' becoming familiar with the Report content particularly as it lends itself to be read and shared as a stand-alone document, though a link to the overall Report should be inserted at the end of this text when it is shared in that way. The Committee agreed the document should be renamed Abstract and integrated within the body of the official report. Within the full report, this abstract placement will be after the title page, before the table of contents, followed by the executive summary and the main body of the report. A paragraph summarizing what the SRE is will be added into the abstract, borrowing largely from the second paragraph in the executive summary. Other minor edits may be needed as well, but these would not alter the substance of this abstract. Report Approval Ms. Cutler moved to approve the Report and addition of the Abstract (introduced as the Primer at this meeting) with changes discussed above, and Ms. Blier seconded this motion. The Committee unanimously voted to approve the Report. Next Steps Mr. Andersen asked Mr. Pato to advise the Committee regarding timing and format for our upcoming meeting with the Select Board. Mr. Pato suggested a hearing or a working group format both could be options. Either way, it will be open to the public and televised on LexMedia. This meeting would take place after Town Meeting has closed and after Patriot's Day. Mr. Pato will confer with Ms. Barry about a date and venue. Report Distribution Because this is a Selectmen's Committee, this report must first be submitted to the Select Board before it can be distributed publicly. Mr. Andersen asked whether the Report can be submitted to the Select Board at its next meeting; Mr. Pato will confirm. Next Meetings Two additional meetings will be required before the Committee disbands. 1. Slide deck and meeting preparation ahead of meeting with the Select Board—date TBD 2. Meeting with the Select Board—date TBD Meeting adjourned at 9:34AM. Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by Sara Bothwell Allen, acting secretary.