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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-24-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Meeting Minutes for January 24, 2008 Attendees: Art Katz, Martha Woods, Winifred McGowan, Melinda Walker, Bob Bicknell, Ken Kreutziger, Betty Borghesani, Paul Linton, Jeri Foutter, Aaron Henry (Town Planning Dept.) , Julie Duncan, Harriet Cohen, Lisa Snellings Bob Bicknell chaired the meeting; Harriet Cohen took the minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:14 pm. 1. Open Meeting The vote on the November minutes was postponed because of a lack of quorum. 2. Sub-Committee Reports. Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Housing Proposals – Bob Bicknell for Betsey Weiss The Vynebrook Village window project, Parker Manor condo purchases (3 units) by LexHAB and the Survey and Define Lexington Affordable Housing Assistance Program were approved by the CPC. These projects will be presented to Town Meeting for final approval. Accessory Apt. Committee – Arthur and Julie The report will be made at a later date. Lexington First-Time Homebuyer Program: Status of Revised Proposal – Bob See the first item under “Report of the Chair”. 3. Report of the Chair (Bob Bicknell) Partnership with LexHAB – summary of trust discussions ? LexHAB has agreed to play a role in the Lexington Affordable Housing Assistance Program. There will be a meeting with a housing consultant who has agreed to talk with us about implementing the “Survey and Define” Project. The meeting is Tuesday, February 19 at 10:00 am in the LexHAB office. Members of the LHP are invited to attend. In any event, work will not begin before the funds are approved by Town Meeting. Disapproval of Site Analysis Project – Alternative project idea ? The Site Analysis Project was not approved by the CPC. Bob suggested that a few people sit down and go through information from the town to identify buildable lots. These sites would be candidates for acquisition by the Town with CPA funds for use in providing affordable housing. This should take a few days worth of effort. Those interested should contact Bob. Lexington Commercial Zone – Analysis and Build Out Study ? The Economic Development Task Force authorized a study of the commercial zones in Lexington. The Study discusses the potential for increasing the capacity of land zoned for commercial use. It is available on the Town web site. It explores the possibility of multiple uses for the land. Lexington Housing Partnership 4. Report from Lexington Housing Foundation – JeriFoutter Jeri provided a list of the transactions from March 31, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The bulk of the expenditures were to the Community Opportunities Group for the study commissioned last year. The Foundation ends the calendar year with $6,280.67 available. 5. Review and Comments on Housing Strategy – Planning Staff (Aaron Henry) About a year ago, the Planning Department identified a need for an overall housing strategy. There was some outreach last spring to begin conversations within the Town about housing. From this, the Planning Department formulated a draft strategy, which is now out for review. There will be additional focus on the Strategy after Town Meeting. The strategy in summary: The overall goal of the strategy is to be short and concise. There will be a series of ? appendices that provide additional information. The focus will be on implementation and achievable goals. ? The Planning Department will be working hard to do outreach and find a consensus within ? the Town around affordable housing. The goal for 2008/9 is one affordable unit. ? Bob supplied comments. Aaron discussed some of the feedback. Bob will circulate his comments and asked for input on his comments and for input on the report. 6. New Business 1. Response to Mass Supreme Judicial Court ruling regarding towns’ authority to regulate mansionization Aaron explained the decision to the Partnership. 2. Discussion of Special Permit Residential Developments (Revised Art. IX) One of the provisions allows a developer of a cluster to get a density bonus for providing affordable units. For 10% affordable housing (40B neutral), the developer would get a 20% bonus both for floor area and for impervious surface. 3. Development of Lexington Gardens Bob brought to the attention of the Partnership that Lexington Gardens is being sold and may become a housing development. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The next meeting is Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, from 7-9 pm (Room G-15, Town Hall)