Sharon Housing Partnership

Meeting Minutes

August 1, 2007 (Approved October 3, 2007)

In attendance: Jane Desberg,  Susan Saunders, Alan Lury, Mary Tobin, Warren Kirshenbaum. Also present: Paul Lauenstein from the Sharon Planning Board, Alice Cheyer and Maureen Stringer

Voted to approve: Minutes of June 6, 2007

Correspondence

Jane Desberg sent an e-mail to Bill Heitin inquiring about the status of Brickstone's monetary contribution (900K) toward affordable housing and when these funds may become available. To date he has not responded.

Carriage Lane and Old Post Road- 40B

Susan Saunders attended the July 25th ZBA meeting regarding this project. The deal between Brickstone and Simpson properties- wherein Brickstone would contribute 980K to hook the Simpson project to Walpole's MWRA sewer connection has fallen through. Simpson is now in the process of working out a deal with the Carriage Lane development  where Carriage Lane will provide land to the Simpson project for its septic system. Instead of the 8 homes with 2 affordable originally proposed for Carriage Lane- this project would be reduced to a total of 5 houses with one of these affordable. Because of these changes Carriage Lane must present a new proposal to the ZBA. This meeting is scheduled for Oct 24 at 8PM.

Jane Desberg spoke with Bill Caulder of the Carriage Lane project and asked him to come to speak with the SHP. If only one house is affordable the state regulations require that the lottery be open to all and not just Sharon residents.

Sharon Commons

Jane Desberg spoke to Bob Shelmerdeen, the attorney for Sharon Commons, and asked him to come at a  future date to speak with the SHP concerning affordable units.

Budget Request to the Town

It was decided to send a letter to Ben Puritz asking for $1000 to fund the SHP. This money would be used to help defray the costs of SHP members attending regional conferences on affordable housing and for other costs associated with the SHP activities.

Old Business

Alice Cheyer- Update on Billings Land and Glenview Affordable Home

Ms. Cheyer thanked the Housing Partnership for their support. Unfortunately the Eastern Bank grant to help purchase the home at 9 Glenview was not approved.  She reported that the MBNA and Conservation Commission are actively trying to raise the funds needed beyond the 750K approved by the CPC to purchase the land and the house. August 31st is the deadline for the purchase and sale agreement. Susan Saunders explained that she will coordinate with Lois Miller and act as the Housing Partnership representative to look at the house. Alice stated that a new septic inspection is necessary as the old inspection was done in either 2003 or 2004. Jim Andrews has agreed to help with this. Jane Desberg will follow up with him. Ms. Cheyer handed out a draft "statement of suitability" she hoped that the HP would sign off on once Susan had a chance to see the house. The wording and content of this draft were discussed. Susan Saunders explained she was not a housing inspector and could not act as one.  The question of where the proceeds from the house sale would go was discussed. The committee felt that the most appropriate place for such funds would be into the Housing Trust. Ms. Cheyer also brought up the costs related to the sale of 9 Glenview to the Town- including insuring the home until its sale as an affordable home. Insurance for an empty house is very expensive. The Housing Partnership presently has zero money and would not be able to pay for this. Ms. Cheyer suggested that the Housing Partnership should try to get money from the Reserve Fund.  Questions regarding the wording of the Article passed at Town meeting and in the MBNA's application to CPC were raised. The group decided to review these materials.

Inclusionary Zoning

Paul Lauenstein  informed the group that Tom Houston has been retained by the Town to prepare the TM warrant article for Inclusionary Zoning (IZ). It will take a two/thirds vote to pass. Paul went on to explain that approximately two years ago Alice Cheyer drafted the first Draft Inclusionary Zoning By-law. In the near future Mr. Houston's draft will be available for review. There are four ways that IZ can be approached: 1) require all new developments over a certain size to provide a percentage (suggested at 10-15%) of affordable units, 2) require developers to supply cash in lieu of affordable homes, 3) require developers to provide land in lieu of affordable homes, 4) have developers buy deed restrictions by advertising and giving moderately priced homeowners the difference between market rate and affordable. Paul explained that in Barnstable the IZ requirement that developer pay in lieu of providing affordable units was challenged and found to be illegal.

The discussion of what AMI figure should be considered affordable was raised. 75% of the AMI as a maximum was considered . The fact that developers can earn tax credits for lower AMI eligibility levels may help offset developers costs.

Jane Desberg has been in touch with Chelmsford Housing where they have passed IZ. Warren Kirchenbaum will look into following up with his contact in Chelmsford.

New Business

Potential Affordable Housing Opportunity

Maureen Stringer, a Sharon resident, presented information to the group regarding having her property purchased for affordable housing. The property is at the corner of Edgehill and Norwood Streets on a lot of ~ 21,500 square feet and zoned for single family residential. She approached the Housing Partnership to see if the Town might be interested in purchasing this property for affordable housing. Several ideas were discussed including whether the site might be appropriate for a duplex or a condex. The Zoning Board would have to approve a variance for this type of construction. Ms. Stringer would be interested in selling the property to the Town for what she paid for it.  Publicity for SHP

Information on the goals and activities of the SHP needs to reach the community. While progress toward the mandated goal of 10% affordable housing has been made- the SHP's mission is to work toward the development of affordable family housing for qualified Sharon residents and employees. Home ownership is a key component. Mary Tobin offered to draft a short piece for the group to review for publication in the Advocate or elsewhere.

Meeting with ZBA

The SHP will try to set up a meeting with the ZBA in the near future to inform them of the work and mission of the SHP.