Minutes
North Stonington Affordable Housing Committee
April 25, 2013
In Attendance: Mary Ann Ricker, Tim Pelland, Kristen Comstock, Tina DuBosque and Jim Scaramozza
Absent: Michelle Brophy
Guests: Juliet Leeming, Marilyn MacKay, Michael Urgo and Christine Devine
Location: Wheeler High School Media Center
The meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Mary Ann Ricker at 6:04 PM. By motion, minutes from the March 28, 2013 meeting were reviewed and ratified.
As part of Public Comment, Michael Urgo of the Board of Finance (BOF) spoke and expressed his and members of the BOF’s support for the work being done by this Committee. He further encouraged the Committee to appear before the BOF and point out the benefits to the currently contemplated affordable housing projects or ones that could be developed on Town-owned land, such as the Wintechog parcel. Members offered that the revenue derived from such developments alone, putting aside the other legal and social benefits for the moment, should serve as impetus or spur for such developments, e.g., property taxes and residents of those new developments infusing moneys into local businesses and whose children would attend our schools. It was left that the Committee would put together information that would demonstrate these
pecuniary benefits for the BOF’s consideration and comment.
An update on Meadowcourt was then given and it was explained to the Committee certain “approvals” or reviews that remain before final site plan approval may be sought. The Committee discussed what it might do to assist the developer in procuring such approvals and passing such review. The general sentiment of this Committee continues to be that Meadowcourt is an excellent project and one that would serve the Town well in many respects, including not only the pecuniary benefits discussed generally above but also allow the Town to meet certain moratorium requirements as set forth in Connecticut General Statutes, 8-30 g.
Christine Devine of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) offered to assist us (along with her colleague Leslie Higgins-Biddle) in obtaining additional information as this pertains to the Committee’s objective to promote tax abatement and tax relief in exchange for certain deed/affordability restrictions. Also, discussion took place over the establishment of the Housing Rehab Loan fund and program. Christine offered to look into getting us examples of Requests for Proposals (RFP) that the Committee might use in seeking the permission of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) or other appropriate Town agencies to hire someone to secure a grant for the Town for these purposes. It was left that members of the Committee would revisit the requirements of CGS 8-30g and that if necessary a lawyer may be hired to assist
in this process.
Juliet Leeming then discussed the results and “findings” of the Community Visioning Session and the follow up to that Saturday meeting that was conducted by Planimetrics with Planning and Zoning. Juliet next has to pull together the myriad comments offered as the Saturday meeting by the Town’s citizenry and continue to pull together the Plan of Conservation and Development.
Marilyn MacKay then informed the Committee of the upcoming Metro Hartford Alliance forum.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Wheeler High School Media Center.
With no further action items in which to discuss, a motion for the meeting’s adjournment was made and seconded and thereafter approved. Accordingly, the meeting was adjourned by our co-chair Mary Ann Ricker at approximately 7:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Scaramozza
Recording Secretary
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