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Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 1, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.
Present: Andy Goldman, Chairman; Zee Gamson, Jim Feiner, Bill Randol, PersonNameTim Lasker,
PersonNameTodd Christy and Christina Soulagnet, Administrative Assistant
Absent: None
Guests: Frank Fenner, Judy Jardin, PersonNameRusty Walton, Billy Meegan, PersonNameJohn Flender,
Mitch Posin, PersonNameWarren Doty, and Rich Osnoss
Call To Order
Andy called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
A motion was made, seconded and all members voted to approve the meeting minutes of September 17, 2007 as amended.
Affordable Housing; Frank Fenner
Frank Fenner informed the committee of the land swap agreement that the Town, the Land Bank and the Hillman family have been negotiating for the past three years. This transaction involved the Engley house and property owned by the Town, 10 acres of land off South Road owned by the Hillman family and Martha's Vineyard Land Bank land.
In order to finalize this transaction, it needs approval by the townspeople at a Special or Annual Town meeting, a subdivision plan approved by the Planning Board, and the transaction needs approval by the State Legislature (due to the exchange of MV Land Bank conservation easements). Once the agreement is approved by all parties, the Town will gain four (4) 1-acre lots that will be utilized for affordable housing. The Hillmans gain the Engley house with property and the MV Land Bank gains an additional six (6) acres of conservation land off addressStreetSouth Road and 2.7 acres and a trail easement off addressStreetMiddle Road.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding one of the conditions in the agreement. This condition states that the Hillman family may choose the recipients for these lots from a qualified applicant pool.
Mr. Fenner stated that the Hillman family supports the Town of CityplaceChilmark, conservation land and affordable housing. The Hillmans stressed the importance for affordable housing for Chilmarkers.
The discussion of hand picking the recipients from a qualified applicant list or having a lottery continued further. It was noted that the Hillman family, or a representative of the Hillman family, would have to come before the Planning Board with the subdivision plan. Mr. Walton read for the Chilmark Zoning By-Laws 6.9 C.2. which states,
"Distribution of Homesite Housing Lots.
a. Homesite Housing Lots created by the town shall be awarded by lottery,
limited to Eligible Purchasers as defined above. Such lottery shall be
held at a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
b. Homesite Housing Lots created by a property owners shall be limited
to Eligible Purchasers as defined above. Selection of the purchaser
shall, at the option of the property owner, be made by the property
owner or by lottery to be held at a public meeting of the Board of
Selectmen."
Mr. Meegan referred to the Zoning By-Law 6.9 B.3.d.ii. which states,
"lease only to Eligible Purchasers as defined above, in the case where
the land is held by the Town or state, or by a non profit entity [501c(3)]
dedicated to developing affordable housing."
Mr. Meegan stated we should be cautious and we may need to consult with Ron Rappaport to get direction on who owns the lot and if that would warrant a lottery.
Mr. Fenner stated that the condition of the Hillman family choosing the recipients for the affordable housing lots was part of the transaction agreement. Mr. Goldman stated that the Chilmark Housing Implementation Guidelines may address this situation.
Mr. Feiner asked if the lots would be released one at a time or would all four lots be released at once? Mr. Fenner stated it would be up to the Planning Board. Mr. Meegan, a Planning Board member, stated that the four lots do not qualify for the rate of development, so all four (4) lots could be released at the same time.
Mr. Fenner anticipates the State Legislation review to take about six (6) months. He hopes that the agreement would receive town approval and Planning Board approval
and will include this information in the application to the State Legislature.
The town will own the title of each lot and lease the land to the qualified recipients.
Mr. Doty stated that the town benefited greatly from this agreement. He expressed his gratitude towards the Hillman family, and he would like to make this process as easy as possible for them.
Ms. Jardin asked Mr. Fenner if there was money left over from the initial appropriations for the Engley property. If there was a balance, this money could be used to prepare the subdivision plan for the affordable housing lots, perc tests, etc… Mr. Fenner will look into this suggestion.
Ms. Jardin asked the Chilmark Housing Committee for an explanation of how an applicant qualifies and becomes an eligible recipient? Ms. Gamson stated that any interested party can pick-up and fill out an application, which is made up of two parts. The Chilmark Housing Committee verifies Part I of the application and determines the number of preferences given, if qualified. The Dukes County Regional Housing Authority verifies Part II of the application and informs the CHC if qualified or not. Each applicant needs to qualify both Part I and Part II of the application in order to become an eligible recipient.
Ms. Jardin expressed her preference of having a lottery and offered the suggestion of the Hillman family picking the name out of the jar. Mr. Fenner stated there is a lot of work to be done before we get to the part of awarding lots, but will keep the suggestion in mind.
Mr. Flender asked Mr. Fenner to define the Land Bank trail easement from addressStreetMiddle Road. Mr. Fenner used the map to illustrate the Land Bank easement. Mr. Flender commented that if the Land Bank ever loses the Gimble easement of the bridge, the trail would then stop and not continue to the water. He suggested the easement continue to the water.
Mr. Fenner would greatly appreciate the Planning Board to provide a list of subdivision requirements.
Mr. Goldman suggested having a joint site visit to the Homesite lots to walk the road and view the property.
The Chilmark Housing Committee thanked Mr. Fenner for his time and energy, and for supporting affordable housing.
Homesite Housing Application
Zee informed the committee that the application packet is almost complete. Christina discussed the CHC CORI policy as well as the Dukes Country Regional Housing Authority CORI policy. Andy asked Christina to forward an electronic file of each policy to the members for their review.
Bussink Subdivision: Homesite Lot (Map 7, placeLot 21)
Tim updated the committee on the Bussink subdivision Homesite lot. The attorney for Bart Bussink attended the Planning Board meeting and proposed to ask his client to provide either a Homesite lot or a donation to affordable housing. Tim will keep the committee informed of the developments.
Other Sources of Affordable Housing
Tim updated the committee on the Community Affordable Housing Opportunity (CAHO) presented by PersonNamePerry Ambulos and Jim Feiner. Perry and Jim presented to the Planning Board a concept of subdividing 12.1 acres into 6 lots; three 3-acre lots and three affordable housing 1-acre lots. The board suggested they come back with a proposed layout plan. Tim will keep the committee updated.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Christina Soulagnet, Administrative Assistant.
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