HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-26 Metro North Regional Housing Advisory Committee Minutes Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes ,`' "� 1 r I c
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Board -
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- Committee - Commission - Council: OCT -9 Py 6:
Metro North Regional Housing Services
Committee
Date: 2016-04-26 Time: 10:00 AM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session:
Purpose: Bi-Monthly Meeting Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Julie Mercier, Laurie Stanton, Danielle McKnight, Valerie Gingrich, Krista
Leahy
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Liz Rust, Andrew MacNichol
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Laurie Stanton
Topics of Discussion:
The Committee called to order at 10:05 AM.
Minutes
The minutes for the February 15`"meeting were amended and approved unanimously.
Status Update
Census coming up in 2020.The denominator for the SHI will be available when the data is released. It
will probably not be released until 2021. DHCD will then compare the data to the Municipal SHI. Wass
Donahue Report,the Housing Unit Report(HUR),comes out yearly and is a good gauge for changes.
DHCD Housing Choice Designation—for land use grants. Reading has submitted their application. Ms.
Rust explained the program,and will send more information to Ms. Leahy.
North Reoding:
In the home stretch with the HPP. North Reading is having the second affordable housing forum on May
22.The Town got over 800 responses to their survey,both online and paper responses.Over 80%of the
respondents were okay with accessory units.Some residents were concerned about the goals and
strategies used because they may not work.The draft report is now on the website. Ms. McKnight is
happy with the consultant(Karen Sunnerborg)for the HPP. BOS meeting on May 7.
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HOME units owned by the NRHA. Ms. McKnight is trying to see if they can count on the SH I,and is
working with the Housing Authority.The Housing Authority wants the units to be affordable in
perpetuity, but not sure they will be able to meet DHCD requirements to be on the SH I. HOME
restriction is 30 years, but LIP is perpetuity.
LIFE in Lynnfield. Residents are bringing this development up at the North Reading meetings. It is set up
for residents and former residents of Lynnfield only,and elderly.Are there Fair Housing implications?It
is not counted on the SHI,and it is not homeownership, but residents have a deed"for as long as they
live."
Reading:
Meeting with the RHA regarding the 1004 Gazebo Circle resale and getting some other RHA owned
properties on the SHI. Units that are part of a program are typically counted,but ones that aren't part of
a program may not be. In the 80's there was a rush to get units on,and DHCD had looser regulations.
There was a good turnout for the New Resident Open House at the library.
There was a re-fi at Johnson Woods
There was a resale at Reading Woods that fell through.
Saugus:
Should illustrate the demand for housing as evidence of why it is needed.
Ms. Leahy did lottery training. Lotteries help people prepare to get units if they're not successful the
first time they apply.
Plan review with the Toll Brothers today regarding their 40B (300 units),on Rte. 1 North.The various
Town departments want to work with them to make the project better, but the Town staff doesn't really
have a say in 40Bs,so it's uncertain how it will go. Ms. Leahy interested in enhancing the quality of life
for people on Rte. 1—with walking paths,etc.
The HPP done in 2016 may not be eligible for approval by DHCD anymore.The Town needs the HPP to
get to safe harbor for all housing coming online.
Local Preference for LAU at Saugus Ridge—Ms. Stanton will help.Also,other projects as well—Essex
Landing
Wilmington:
Audits for Avalon Oaks and Avalon Oaks West were done.
Rezoning proposed for Sciarappa Farm.There is a Town meeting next weekend. No inclusionary zoning
is required if it's rezoned to Neighborhood Mixed-Use.
Ms.Gingrich is working on Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw for Town Meeting next year.The reaction isn't just
to say"no", but to get rid of multi-family housing altogether.
LAU application for Spruce Farm.This is the first LAU in Wilmington.Ms. Gingrich will add MNRHSO to
distribution list.
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IMA—Saugus—change to Town Manager.Wilmington—Review hours and percentages.Add
percentages for FY18 to As and send around.
Ways to makeup hours—Ms. Stanton could have office hours in other towns. It is working well in
Wilmington.
Re-Fi Options
DHCD is 97%Loan to Value. It depends on whose unit it is. In the Wilmington Homeowner Rehab
Program,they do not allow cash out for Financing.These units are about to fall off the SHI anyway.
Questions:variable we,cash out, loan to value standard.
Next meeting date:June 21 @ 10 AM in the Berger Room
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