AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
February 3, 2005
6:30 P.M. Memorial Hall
Town Hall
1196 Main Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Ricker, Timothy Ethier, Peter Brennan, Joanne O’Brien, Sharon McManus, Kathy Gould.
STAFF: Pamela Harding, Town Planner
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
The Partnership Committee was updated on the status of various affordable housing projects.
Stone Ridge Estates – The Partnership was informed that the Regulatory Agreement for the Chapter 40B project by Springwood Development, for Stone Ridge Estates had been signed by the Board of Selectmen and the applicant was expected to start construction in the Spring, 2005. It was expected that the lottery would be conducted sometime in Summer, 2005.
The project for Fisher Road was reviewed. The State has not yet issued a site eligibility letter but the developer requested a copy of the Comprehensive Permit Regulations from the Town Clerk approximately a week ago.
The Partnership reviewed the Town’s affordable housing inventory for 2004, which reduced from 2.74% to 2.67% without the inclusion of the 10 units for Stone Ridge Estates. The Committee reiterated the fact that the Community Development Plan requires the production of 44 units of affordable housing per year for ten years to become compliant with the 10% state affordable housing stock.
T. Ethier asked what affect that Winterberry Hollow, a LIP application submitted by Sundin & Son, Inc., would have in aiding the Town in reaching the required numbers to deter the submission of a hostile filing. R. Ricker reminded the Partnership that the units do not count as part of the inventory until the project is given approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Rice School was discussed and the Committee talked about revisiting the conversion of the building to affordable housing with the Massachusetts Housing Opportunities Council. J. O’Brien stated that she was in favor of pursuing the possibility of constructing housing at the older portion of the Rice School building but suggested that the addition was a good fit for a community center. P. Brennan stated that it was not the partnerships duty to suggest what would fit for a community center and thought they should look at the project from the perspective of affordable housing only. S. McManus agreed.
K. Gould suggested linking the project at the Holden Hill Hospital with the Rice School site to provide future employees with affordable housing. Selectmen Joseph Sullivan was in the audience and updated the Partnership about the hospital site. J. Sullivan stated that UMass had hired a firm to submit requests for qualifications and that 22 proposals had already been received. J. Sullivan stated that UMass has been very cooperative and the possibility of pursuing the incorporation of affordable housing with an assisted living facility by utilizing either Chapter 40B or Chapter 40R had been discussed.
P. Brennan made a motion to contact the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager to ensure that they were in support of the Partnership contacting MHOC to determine if there was any interest in forming a partnership to construct affordable housing at the Rice School site, S. McManus seconded the motion, all were in favor.
Putnam Lane – after May 2005 the number of possible building lots for the Town owned property on Putnam Lane will be reduced due to the zoning area increase requirements adopted in May, 2000. The Committee wanted to remind the Board of Selectmen that they voted not to support developing affordable housing on the Putnam Lane lots due to the revenue that would be lost from placing the lots out to bid. The possible revenue could be significantly reduced if the property is not sold within the five year grandfathering provisions of the zone change. The Partnership requested Selectmen Ethier remind the Selectmen of the Town meeting vote permitting sale of the lots.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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