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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Joint Meeting of Board of Selectmen and CPDC September 28,2006 For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order in which any item was taken up by the Board. The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts. A quorum of the Board of Selectmen and the CPDC were present. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list- of interested parties: Mary DeLai, Mike Schaffer, Christine Brungardt,Nick Safina,John Jarema, Lyn Whyte, Susan Miller, Bob Redfern, Frank Pascuto, Jonathan Barnes, Chris Reilly, Rick Schubert, George Katsoufis, John Sasso, Dave Tuttle, Neil Sullivan, Carl McFadden, Bernie Casey, Brant Ballantyne, Mary Ellen O'Neill, Eleanor White. The Town Manager reviewed the agenda,the purpose, and introduced Eleanor White President of Housing Partners, Inc. Ms. White reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on Chapter 40R and Chapter 40S smart growth initiatives. Questions were asked and answered from the participants. Ms. White noted that Chapter 40R "as of right" zoning, that the community may establish design standards, and that minimum densities for one family units is eight per acre, for two to four family units 12 per acre, and for multi-family units 20 per acre. Ms. White reviewed the formula for 40S. She indicated that through Mass. Housing, grants up to $50,000 for planning are available. More than one 40R district can be created, and they don't have to be done at the same time. Six communities have passed 40R zoning districts: Lunenburg, Norwood, Dartmouth, North Reading,Plymouth and Chelsea. Thirty other communities are considering such districts. The group thanked Ms. White for her presentation and moved on to other agenda items. Town Planner Chris Reilly reviewed the lengthy and comprehensive process for preparation and review of the housing-related goals of the adopted Master Plan and Housing Plan draft involving the CPDC, Master Plan Advisory Committee and Planning Subcommittee, with explanatory reference to Housing Objectives 1 B through 5. He then reviewed the State's housing certification statistics, proposed Housing Plan annual production and likely affordable housing development to date. These indicate that the Town currently is over 200 housing units shy of the State-mandated requirements under MGL Chapter 40B that 10% of municipal housing stock be affordable. Based on projected housing unit growth anticipated upon the 2010 Census the State will use to determine certification, the Town would be approximately 250 units shy of that goal if no further affordable units are produced. Joint Meeting of Board of Selectmen and CPDC—September 28,2006—Page 2 Mr. Reilly then explained that the Selectmen and Town Manager have identified the preparation and adoption of the Housing Plan as a priority, and they have assigned the task of preparing a draft to the Planning Subcommittee for the Board of Selectmen to review, input and adoption prior to submission for State approval. He then reviewed the need for and requirements and benefits of the Housing Plan once approved by the State, and invited comments and input from the CPDC. The.Planning Subcommittee and Town Manager then asked for comments from attendees, and promised to seek out additional input from the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, the School Committee and Town Meeting. A tentative schedule which would have a'presentation to the Board of Selectmen on a October 26, 2006 report to Town Meeting on November 13, 2006, Board of Selectmen approval of a planned production plan in January 2007, a Special Town Meeting in January or February 2007, and submission of the plan to DHCD in March of 2007. There being no further business, the CPDC and Board of Selectmen adjourned their.meeting of September 28, 2006 and the program ended at approximately 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, -AecretaV