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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-25-LEARY-min Meeting Notes Ad hoc Leary Property Community Housing Task Force August 25, 2010 2 00 p.m. Room 207, Town Office Building Present: Bob Bicknell, George Burnell, Marilyn Fenollosa,Aaron Henry,Wendy Manz, Maryann McCall-Taylor, Lester Savage and Betsey Weiss Absent: Bill Hays, Stephen Keane and Deb Mauger Housekeeping ■ Lex Savage to serve as interim chair ■ Reminder to read Conflict of Interest Statute and complete on-line training (http //db.state.ma.us/ethics/quiz_MEthics/index.asp) Review of Committee Charge Issues that will need to be addressed during the life of the task force ■ Treatment of existing house ■ Development scenarios ■ Funding ■ Public process ■ Timeline Discussion of House ■ Cost to rehab is up to $500,000 and both Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and Town Meeting would have to approve. That is a very high cost per square foot ■ The letter from Salemi was in response to questions from LexHAB ■ Community Preservation Coalition was asked if the development could be mixed income. They said probably not, as it has already been acquired with specified funds. This opinion should be confirmed in a letter from the Department of Revenue (DOR) ■ CPA funds allow affordability for up to 100% area median income (AMI) ■ Should money be expended to preserve this structure? What is the priority for CPA funds for the next five years? The historic preservation money has gone to projects such as Police, Fire and Town Office Buildings that would be funded even if there weren't CPA funds. If CPA is to fund things that the town couldn't ordinarily do,this would a priority ■ Vine Street has lost most of its integrity but this lot is emblematic of the farming culture that used to be in town.Would additional units interfere with the integrity of the site? No ■ Historic status- Built prior to 1853, it is on the Cultural Inventory and subject to the demolition delay bylaw Have others like it been preserved? Need to know if the town wants to spend money to save this. ■ The Lexington Housing Partnership Board is on record calling to apply HOME funds to site development. Not that easy as the HOME program brings many strings. ■ Applications for CPA funds need to be in by November 1 It will not be possible to present a development plan for the site in that time,but should apply for funds for initial planning. Should they explore all possibilities or move forward with a set number of units? ■ A public process should explore keeping or demolishing the house. It is the house or the feel of it that is important? How much of the structure can/should be preserved? ■ The federal housing standards for affordable units may be in conflict with what can be achieved in the house. If it can't be used for affordable housing what could be done with it? ■ DCR has a curatorship program that grants a long term lease in return for restoration of the structure. ■ The density in the neighborhood averages about 5 units per acre,the median is 3.2 units per acre, and the Department of Housing and Community Development uses 8 units per acres for single-family affordable units. Perhaps 5-6 units including the preservation of the house is a good place to start. ■ Neighborhood needs to be involved early and before any decisions are made. Action items ■ Get letter from DOR regarding ability to have a market rate unit ■ Find out about curatorship program ■ Can Town Meeting reallocate CPA source of funds, i.e. historic preservation? ■ Exactly what is the Historical Commission interested in preserving-the entire house,the smaller original structure,the facade,the placement on the lot, etc.? ■ See if Sasaki can draw up some plans with 6 or fewer units. Next meeting• Monday, September 13 at 9 00 a.m., Room 207, Town Office Building Documents June 23, 2010 letter to Aaron Henry from Richard Salemi Committee Charge