MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
January 18, 2007
6:30 P.M. 1130 Main Street
Holden Senior Center
Committee Members: Barbara Kohlstrom, Rosemary Johnson, Celeste Duffy, Judy Haran, Steve Mentzer, Ed Starkus, Joe Giotta, Cheryl Ann Owoc, Paul McManus, Mike Wronski, Kim Ferguson, Scott Carlson
Consultants: Bill Giezentanner and Brian Barber
Absent: David Lindberg, Ed Benoit, Wendy O'Leary, Rick Shiels and Pam Harding
We approved the minutes for the two previous meetings with one change to each. Celeste Duffy was present at both meetings and it read that she was absent.
Rosemary discussed her Housing Element. She commented that her report was very extensive. She also commented on the need for more affordable housing to meet the 10% required. There was quite a bit of input from the board and as well as the consultants as to how to achieve our goal and different options that were available. Those mentioned were over 55 housing, continuing care, assisted living, nursing homes, Life Progression units which provide care as required. Brian mentioned that the market for Age-Restricted housing was not there and if it were to be built the option to unrestrict it if units were not selling could be an option. The committee as a whole recommended that the report state that an "Affordable Housing Creation Committee" be formed to be more proactive with the Town's affordable
housing.
Paul discussed Natural Resources Element. He commented on the fact that people like to look at open space. They like the fact that it is there. At the last public meeting people commented on that they like the vistas of farms. He also mentioned that the Town is going to need to put money at open space to keep it undeveloped. The CPA concept was mentioned with mixed reaction. The committee as a whole agreed that numbers need to be put in front of people so that they can see concrete information as to the savings to the Town if they purchase open space. It was also mentioned that the Town needs to more widely publicize the open space areas so that more people can enjoy them.
Judy discussed the Open Space Element. She commented that Bill did a good job with what little information he had. She also mentioned that the referenced an Open Space Report of 2004 and that the report was not satisfactory for the output of a good report. Judy mentioned that the Princeton Open Space Element was very thorough and she suggested that we mirror their report. She handed out copies for the committee to review. She also asked that the report summarize the loss of Open Space in the Town, building permits should be referenced and more business information should be in the report. Challenges and opportunities that Judy mentioned were: Environmental Concerns (Brownfields), retention ponds, tax title properties (toxic waste areas), etc. The mention of the 72 acres, formerly Holden Youth
Sports, be looked at for possibility of Checkerberry type housing.
In closing we discussed with the consultants as to how we would like to see the final drafts appear. It was concluded that the opening paragraph be a summary of key points of the draft, then all the information collected and then a final note (not sure what they call it). We had discussed postponing the March 3rd meeting so that the consultants can get the drafts completed, the committee can reivew these drafts and then have a meeting with Town Officials to get their input before out next meeting.
Dates to remember:
February 9th - consultants will have drafts rewritten and posted to the website for our review.
February 15th - 6:30 p.m. meeting to discuss drafts with committee (place: TBA)
Need to be scheduled:
Meeting with Town Officials
Final Public Meeting
The meeting adjourned
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