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HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2019-03-07 Minutes Brewster Housing Trust March 7, 2019 5 : 30pm Room A, Brewster Town Hall Present : Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen , Donna Kalinick ' J10R Uil Maggie Spade -Aguilar, Tim Hackert, Sarah Robinson, Jill Scalise Call to Order : Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 30pm . 1 . Citizen's Forum : None 2 . Review of 40B Training : Ms . Scalise said we would like to give the Trust an opportunity to talk about the training that Judi Barrett presented on 40B, the Comprehensive permit law . Ms . Robinson thought that the history and training were excellent and 40B can be a positive tool . Mr . Ruchinskas was surprised at the Regional Planning tool context that was elaborated on . Ms . Kalinick said she spoke with Ms . Barrett afterwards about the concept of 40B education for the public . Ms . Spade -Aguilar was surprised that is was explained as being a useful tool , and how she provided the 40B information in an uncomplicated way . At some time, in the Millstone potential next steps it would be good to know what exactly a friendly 40B is, what makes it a friendly 40B . A friendly 40B is done in conjunction with the town, ex . Paul Hush Way, Habitat project, Brewster Woods . The Town supports the project in some way . An unfriendly 40B is just a developer coming in and doing a development without town input or support . Ms . Kalinick would like to consider having Ms . Barrett come and do a resident 40B training around the Millstone project . Chair deRuyter thought the session was very positive and educational . All members agreed that we should build some resident education around the 40B law . 3 . Millstone Road property : Presentation on pre -feasibility study by Laura Shufelt, MHP and discussion : Ms . Shufelt is not able to be here this evening . She will attend the April meeting instead . Ms . Scalise & Ms . Kalinick gave an overview of where we stand with the Millstone project . In January, Ms . Kalinick, Ms . Scalise, Mr . deRuyter and Mr . Ruchinskas met with Ms . Shufelt and Bohler Engineering to go over the scope of the work that Bohler would be performing as part of the technical assistance grant from Mass Housing Partnership . Currently, Bohler is doing due diligence which includes reviewing zoning, GIS mapping, land constraints and what utilities exist . They are meeting with the Health Department, Planning and Zoning and Department of Public Works Superintendent . We may have that report next month . Bohler will do two phases of the work then will pause so the Trust can do community engagement then continue with their work . Mr. Ruchinskas explained that during Phase III , some conceptual sewer design and storm water analysis of what would be needed on the site would be done . We did talk about the Millstone Road improvement project as well . We are looking at a Community Engagement process similar to what Provincetown is currently doing for their VFW property . Mr . Hackert stated that he is supportive that we need to talk to the community first . Ms . Kalinick explained that we are looking at the scope for community engagement from Provincetown . We will look at June for I beginning the Community Engagement process . Ms . Kalinick needs to get quotes out to find a i consultant . We want to do Community Engagement at a time when we make sure people are here . We want to hear from the community and communicate financial realities . Ms . Spade - Aguilar asked what the difference phases are made up of. Mr. deRuyter explained that there are two rounds of public comment then we would present a draft for a third public meeting . Mr . Hackert said we should solicit ideas, measure against funding realities and then have a small group work with choices which would probably include Mr. deRuyter and Mr . Ruchinskas . Mr. Hackert asked if we should include a neighbor for input during the process . The point of Community Engagement is to receive feedback to produce draft plans . We need to talk about the Bohler work and Mass Housing Partnership in the scope; bring Bohler' s concepts into the 2nd meeting then select one to present at the last meeting . It is important to present Bohler' s due diligence findings at the first meeting . The Trust decided to form a working group to refine the RFQofJill , Donna , Madalyn and Tim . 4 . Mission Statement discussion . Ben, Donna and Jill worked on revising the mission statement so that it was clear and concise with the idea of separating out the goals as discussed at our last meeting . Chair deRuyter read the draft mission statement as follows; The Brewster Affordable Housing Trust ( " BAHT" ) affirms that social and economic diversity enriches our community . The BAHT will work to provide more affordable, safe and accessible housing choices . The Trust is committed to education, collaboration and community engagement . Ms . Spade-Aguilar agreed it should be succinct, but thinks this is a little too succinct . She would like to see the mission statement get back to the focus on housing, the first sentence doesn ' t mention housing . Ms . Spade -Aguilar drew up a mission statement that spoke to all the issues that were left out of this as follows; To expand and preserve Brewster' s affordable housing stock by addressing the need for year- round rental units and units for ownership that are affordable to low- and very- low- income households, while fostering a welcoming environment for demographically and socio -economically diverse populations . The BAHT will achieve this by addressing the overarching goal of increasing supply, in reaction to the demand from low- income residents, while being considerate of the Town' s environmental and historical integrity; and do so through education and communication with its residents, collaboration with other Brewster town officials, boards and Cape housing entities, as well as with other Cape towns . Mr . Hackert noted that we are serving the entire community by providing affordable housing diversity . Ms . Hillis- Dineen said more housing choices are for everyone- low, middle and workforce ; we can further address ideas in the goals . Mr . Ruchinskas suggested we switch sentence one and two in the first mission statement proposal and incorporate some language from the Trust bylaw . Chair deRuyter will do one more revision, then we can officially adopt . Ms . Robinson is not sure we should say low and very low income . She feels that working people get frustrated and we should include moderate . Ms . Spade -Aguilar said that moderate and low income people are working and the term workforce housing can be misconstrued . Workforce housing generally refers to police, fire, school teachers, low and very low income are working and struggling . Mr . Ruchinskas noted that the term workforce housing leaves out older people who are not working . Ms . Kalinick said she thought the discussion was great and clearly everyone is invested and cares . She explained that when she, Ms . Scalise and Chair deRuyter met, part of the issue they were having was trying to find language that encompassed everyone and didn 't exclude which is where they came to housing choice . Chair deRuyter thanked everyone for their group effort in creating a mission statement; it is important . A revised statement will come in April . 5 . Community Housing Forum discussion : Ms . Scalise said they held a planning meeting in January and designed a dual purpose forum , a fair of housing information in the beginning and end ; and a presentation by Trust with time for citizen feedback . The Library was not available so they booked the Brewster Baptist Church for April 30th . They would welcome other private agencies to participate as well such as Housing Assistance, Community Development . The Trust does need to know who will do the presentation and who will speak . Promotion can be pushed out through Brewster Community Network, Facebook, and Lower Cape TV . They will have another planning meeting and have a more solid agenda for April . Mr . Ruchinskas wants to make sure the goals of the Trust are discussed for feedback from the public . Everyone should send their draft goals to Ms . Scalise for the next meeting . Ms . Kalinick suggested they have a place where the public can leave written input on goals . The power point presentation should be short and the speakers should be varied . 6 . Brewster Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bylaw proposed changes for May Town Meeting : The proposed bylaw change addresses changing the terms to stagger and if the Town administrator is not a Brewster resident . Ms . Kalinick explained that the non - resident exemption would only apply to the town administrator or their designee, if the designee was a staff person . The intention was not to remove the ability of the town administrator to appoint a resident who was not a staff person . For example , in Yarmouth the former town administrator, Bob Lawton is the designee . Trust members discussed the pros and cons and decided to allow the ability of the town administrator to choose his designee, though it was agreed that having the Town administrator or a staff person is important . 7 . Funding sources : Chair deRuyter said that the $ 50, 000 is still in the town warrant capital requests right now . This is just a first step and he would like to adopt a more aggressive position similar to what Orleans did in the future . Ms . Kalinick said there is also a CPC request to continue to fund the Housing coordinator position . Jill Douglass noted that the Trust can accept donations as well , the Orleans Trust has received some donations . 8 . Brewster Housing Update : Ms . Scalise gave her update . The Habitat Phase II application is open and due 3/22 . The Housing Partnership is interested in community education as part of their work . It would be good to have a joint meeting between the Trust and the Partnership after the Forum to see how to complement each other' s efforts and work . The Housing website has been updated and all the housing is accessible on one page . Jill and Donna did a Housing video update . Mass Housing will be offering a Trust round table in April which could be very beneficial to members . She has begun sending letters to homeowners on the SHI to develop relationships and support services . We are getting inquiries about the ADU and two are in the Special Permit process now . Planning & Building have developed one page information sheets for residents . 9 . Any other business not anticipated : None 10 . Approval of minutes from January 3, 2019 and February 7, 2019 meetings : Madalyn Hillis- Dineen moved to approve the minutes of January 3 and February 7, 2019, Mr . Hackert second . The Trust voted &Yes, 0- No . 11 . Next meeting date : April 4th at 5 : 30pm . 12 , Adjournment : Mr . Hackert moved to adjourn at 6 : 59pm , Mr . Ruchinskas second . The vote was unanimous in favor . Respectfully Submitted , Donna J . Kalinick Assistant Town Administrator Approved April 4, 2019 I i