HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-22-HPB.min
Lexington Housing Partnership
Meeting Minutes for September 22, 2004
Attendees:
Bob Bicknell Tom Harden Iris Wheaton Ruth Ladd
Cathy Abbott Florence Baturin Arthur Katz Mary Haskell
Ann Adams David Williams Winifred McGowan Inky MacDougall
Betsey Weiss Bill Carlson Anne Frymer Paul Sodano
David Burns Philip Herr Maryann McCall-Taylor
Dan Smith Jay Kaufman Laurie Atwater, reporter for Colonial Times
Bob Bicknell chaired the meeting; Winifred McGowan took the minutes. The meeting
was called to order at 7:07 pm.
Partnership Members, Liaison changes
The Selectmen reappointed the following members to serve a 3-year term: Bob Bicknell,
Florence Baturin, Mary Haskell, Inky MacDougall, and David Williams. Ann Adams,
new minister at Hancock Church, is the clergy’s temporary liaison with the Partnership.
Certificate of Appreciation
Bob Bicknell and Jay Kaufman presented Dan Smith with Certificates of Appreciation
for his help in establishing the Lexington Housing Partnership. The Partnership is
grateful for Dan’s vision and ongoing efforts while he was with the Partnership and
wishes him well in his new position in Cambridge.
Minutes
Minutes from June 24, 2004 were approved unanimously.
Committee Reports:
Zoning By-Law Changes
(Mary Haskell, Phil Herr)
Phil Herr has focused on two categories of zoning changes that will add affordable units
and provide a greater range of housing sizes. First is to add an inclusionary requirement
for all developments of 3 or more units; the number of affordable units required would
increase as the percent of median income needed to purchase the unit increased. Second
is to simplify the accessory unit regulations by combining the categories and removing
some of the restrictions which have not been useful. There would be a category for basic
accessory apartments allowed by right (up to 1,000sq.ft., minimal increase in building
size allowed, and owner resides in building) and a basic accessory apartment in an
accessory building in RO and RS Zones with a special permit. There would also be a
category for larger apartments allowed by right or by special permit in RO and RS Zones
(building expansion up to 40%, accessory apartment up to 40% of building, no owner
occupancy requirement). Other changes are on hold for now. Partnership discussed
whether to bring either or both proposals to 2005 Town Meeting, or, alternately to do an
educational presentation in 2005 and bring them to Town Meeting in 2006. Partnership
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felt that it would be easier to prepare the accessory apartment changes but noted it will
take a lot of work to build up enthusiastic Town-wide support. Next meeting is scheduled
for October 21 at 1pm.
HOME Consortium
(David Burns)
The committee is preparing the October proposal, which would qualify the Town to
receive $60,000 - 65,000. The money must be used within 3 years and is meant to
produce new affordable units. The funds also can be used to buy down the rental or
purchase price. To go from 80% to 50% affordable level when buying, it costs about
$100,000. Items to consider are building on the Lowell/ North Street parcel, buying units
for LexHab, designating the $100,000 in lieu of payments Brookhaven proposes to make,
when it expands, to be used for affordable housing. Please pass ideas on to D.Burns.
Karen Sobol is new planning staff who has taken on the HOME consortium work.
Housing Fund
(Florence Baturin)
Lexington Housing Foundation, Inc. has been established. The Foundation can collect
and raise money, accept gifts, and develop property. The 3 Officers also serve as
Directors: President-Bob Bicknell; Clerk-Florence Baturin; Treasurer-Jeri Foutter from
Cambridge Savings Bank. Every member of the Partnership is a voting member of the
Foundation. The annual meetings will be in September. The Foundation is waiting for its
designation as a non-profit entity to be issued.
Land Use
(Iris Wheaton)
Concerned that the Town is almost built-out so building lots are “created” when a less
expensive house is razed, the committee wondered what the demolition process was. The
Historical Commission checks the property against its list of protected houses. This
means that some houses can be razed immediately while razing others, which are on the
list, may be delayed in an effort to renovate or find a new buyer. The Historical
Commission has no say in what gets built when a house is razed. Committee wondered
whether the regulations could be changed to grant the Historical Commission some
control over the replacement structure for properties on its list. Committee is also looking
into tax exemptions and other incentives for a homeowner to make and/or keep his
property affordable. Committee would like to encourage accessory apartments and
possibly housing in the downtown. Next meeting is September 29 at 4pm.
Reports from the Chair:
Franklin School Apartments
– There is a possibility that Mass Housing would pay off
Lexington’s million dollar mortgage, at which point Lexington may not have a voice in
keeping all units affordable. It will still have the option to buy back the land in 35 years.
Mass Housing is planning to keep only the 10 low rent units affordable in perpetuity; the
remainder would become market rate units. The mortgage money reverts to the general
fund. Bob Bicknell recommends that the Partnership lobby Town Meeting to reinstate its
use for affordable housing should this possibility come about.
Avalon at Lexington Square-
LIP applicationis under review by Department of
Housing and Community Development. A determination is expected soon.
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Smart Growth Zoning (40R)
– Draft regulations are expected to be available in
December for comment.
ACTION
– A representative is needed for this regional advocacy group.
American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI)
– Lexington joined the Community
Service Network, Inc. to provide qualifying residents first-time homebuyer down
payment assistance. Outreach is needed.
Priority Development Fund
– Money is available for planning assistance; no project has
been identified yet.
Lexington Housing Authority
– Bob Bicknell met with Ann Whitney, the director, and
obtained information about the state and federally sponsored programs LHA manages. A
current problem she noted is that under the Section 8 Voucher program they will receive
less rental income from governmental sources in 2005.
LexHAB
– Bob Bicknell met with Marshall Derby concerning a potential application for
funding from the HOME Consortium. LexHAB did not want to participate at this time.
B.Bicknell wondered whether they could devise a way to link Lexington homeowners
moving into LexHAB units in such a way that their former home could become an
affordable unit in the town.
Certificates of Appreciation
- were presented to Jackie Davison and Glenn Garber in
appreciation of their support to the Partnership and their effort in support of affordable
housing.
New Business:
New planning staff are Karen Sobol (temporary) and Eve Tapper, planner.
Walnut Street
land disposition (Maryann McCall-Taylor)
DCAM is disposing of a 6 and a 50 acre parcel, former hospital property. When the
smaller parcel was sold DCAM agreed to restrict development to that allowed under
zoning. Town asked to be included in reuse process for the larger piece, including
preserving a large portion for open space.
Grandview Meadows
(40B application David Burns)
Site visit open to the public is scheduled October 16; public hearing is scheduled October
22 at 7:45 on proposal for 12 units, including 3 affordable units on Grandview Avenue.
Next meeting is October 25at 7 pm.
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