HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2019-04-04 Minutes Brewster Housing Trust : ; LI
April 4 , 2019 5 : 30pm Room A, Brewster Town Hall cji1j . ; t 1' r °
Present : Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas , Madalyn Hillis-Dineen, Donna Kalinick
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 : Pelinda Deegan, Housing Coordinator for Community Development
Partnership was present and introduced herself. She is working for the Towns of Harwich and
Chatham. She has office hours in Chatham on Tuesday and in Harwich, on Thursdays . She has
been in this position for about a month with projects hitting the ground .
2 . Millstone Road property discussion : Laura Shufelt from Mass Housing Partnership (MHP)
presented the findings from Bohler Engineering on the Millstone Road pre-feasibility study . Ms .
Shufelt gave an overview of the types of programs and work that MHP engages in, including
community assistance, lending through the One Mortgage program, education and the center for
housing data. The initial report on Millstone which included review of survey, mapping of
wetlands, environmental assessment and septic options was favorable . Ms . Shufelt has only
received the preliminary report from Bohler Engineering . There are no mapped wetlands, but
Bohler would like to review a few low lying areas with the Conservation agent . There are some
low areas and there will be a need for good stormwater drainage systems . Ms . Shufelt reminded
everyone that housing development is subject to procurement and a Request for Proposals (RFP)
will have to be done for disposition of property, following 30B . A good RFP will attract as many
developers as possible . There is a 90 bedroom limit for septic systems . The idea is to have a
friendly 40B and this site had very limited constraints . Ms . Kalinick asked if the 90 bedroom
total applies if you subdivide the land . Ms . Shufelt will clarify this with Bohler . Mr. Hackert
asked if we need to do a wetlands determination. Ms . Shufelt did not feel that was necessary at
this time . Ms . Kalinick clarified that there is not any mapped wetlands at this location, talking to
the Conservation Agent is a clarifying step . Chair deRuyter asked to what extent we get into site
design before the RFP . Ms . Shufelt said it is not very extensive . The engineer puts together
various scenarios and concepts . Ms . Robinson asked who makes the decision about the housing
need and what the best choice for this location is . Ms . Shufelt said the next steps are to set goals
for the site based on the Housing Production Plan, the Vision Plan, what you need and want,
distribution of bedroom sizes , whether you want community areas interior and exterior, what
areas do you want to leave untouched areas . You also have to take into consideration financial
feasibility, how many units will be affordable and available funding sources . When the engineer
looked at the conceptual site designs, they felt there is one good place for the access area. Ms .
Spade-Aguilar asked what makes a prof ect palatable to a developer. Mr. Hackert talked about the
difference between subsidies versus tax credits . Mr. Ruchinskas explained that in his experience,
above 80% of the area median income is the hardest to do . Ms . Kalinick asked that Ms . Shufelt
expand on the RFP process a bit since this is the Trusts first project. Ms . Shufelt explained that it
is not prescriptive ; there are evaluation criteria, design standards , possible pictures of what
would be desirable . Ms . Kalinick asked if it might be of value to have a presentation to the Trust
on last 3 to 4 RFP ' s with corresponding proposals that MHP has been involved with. Ms . Spade-
Aguilar asked if we specify the number of bedrooms . We do not . Ms . Shufelt explained there is
typically a formula, but the RFP typically states a mix of bedroom units , Ms . Shufelt will send
the final report when she receives it from Bohler Engineering . Their work will pause while the
Trust does Community Engagement,
4- Draft Scope of Services for Community Engagement : Selectman deRuyter stated that we
have committed to an active community outreach piece . At this point in the pre-feasibility
process , we want to pause and get community input . Ms . Kalinick, Ms . Scalise and Mr . Hackert
started to use the Provincetown RFP as a beginning point, but decided there process was
different . They agreed that the Brewster Request for Quotes should be done after hearing the
Bohler findings and getting feedback from Ms . Shufelt and the Trust. A combination of
facilitator and somebody who is a numbers persons in order to balance ideas with financial
realities . The first session would set the table with education and some brainstorming . Mr.
Hackert said we also need to present the constraints and what would be feasible . Ms . Robinson
said we do not want to jump to the number of units right away . Mr . Ruchinskas said the need
comes first, then the Bohler findings, then brainstorming, then realities . Selectman deRuyter
asked if we should get into high level finances . Ms . Shufelt recommended not to present finances
initially as it is very complicated . The second meeting is to present the funding realities coupled
with how we achieve housing goals on this site .
We should anticipate some resistance . The second meeting would also present funding realities .
The third meeting would present draft concepts for the RFP . Community Engagement will
hopefully take place June to August. Ms . Shufelt said she could provide the funding reality piece
if the Trust would like . Ms . Shufelt said the best time for the RFP to go out would be
September/October as it would allow for potential developers to get into the spring funding
round . Ms . Scalise explained that we have the Housing Production Plan and it is a matter of how
these components come together in the best way.
3 . Mission statement discussion ; Chair deRuyter said this discussion has been on our agenda for
multiple meetings . We have a final statement this evening which Ms . Scalise worked on with the
Chair after input from the last meeting of the Trust. We wanted the mission statement to be
more succinct and to address the housing needs, incomes and range of rental and housing, but
still want to stress education, collaboration and community engagement . Ms . Spade-Aguilar read
aloud for the public : "The Brewster Affordable Housing Trust ("BAHT") seeks to expand and
preserve year-round rental and ownership homes that are affordable to moderate, low, and very
low income households . Our efforts will foster a welcoming environment for demographically
and socio -economically diverse populations . The BAHT is committed to education,
collaboration, and community engagement. " Mr . Hackert said he thinks it meets all of our
discussions . Mr. Hackert moved to approve the Mission Statement, Ms . Spade-Aguilar second .
The Trust voted unanimously in favor .
4 . Community Housing Forum & Housing Fair : Thursday May 23 "d at 5 : 30PM :
Ms . Scalise explained that the decision was made to move the date, due to a competing forum
and the library is open for the new date, May 23rd . There will be a housing fair, starting at 5 : 30
then a then presentation by Jill & Donna, then brief presentation by the partner groups ; Council
on Aging, Brewster Housing Partnership, Brewster Housing Authority and CPC . After that, we
will take public input on our goals and suggestions for solutions . There will be more time for the
housing fair portion at the end . Mr. Hackert is preparing a small survey for people to fill out and
will analyze the results . The Housing Trust will have table so we will need members to be at
Maggie and Tim said they could do this . Ms . Kalinick suggested an article in the paper about the
Trust as good word about the Forum; she will reach out to Rich Eldred. Ms . Kalinick also
suggested handing out flyers at Town Meeting . Chair deRuyter will check with the moderator.
5 . Potential joint meeting with Housing Partnership : Ms . Scalise said the Housing Partnership
would like to work on education as well as coordinate with Trust on Town housing efforts . The
BHP wants to have a presentation on the Chatham MCI program and it may be valuable to have
the Trust there as well . Ms . Robinson said the BHP wants to work. collaboratively with the Trust .
The proposed joint meeting would be on July l ltn
6 . Brewster Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bylaw : The bylaw proposed changes for May Town
Meeting are in the warrant and are to create staggered terms and to allow the Town administrator
or his designee to be non-Brewster residents if they are staff.
7. Funding of Trust : Item for May Town Meeting
Chair deRuyter is in his role as a select board member had suggested a Housing Trust override in
the amount of $250K for permanent funding for the Trust. The Trust will need a permanent
funding source to be successful . Chair deRuyter would like to discuss over the next meetings
what we would use the money for and to keep the conversation going. The request will not go
forward this spring as there would need to be more outreach and planning, but Ms . Kalinick has
suggested the Trust ask. for $ 100 , 000 in free cash this spring as a first step and a match to the
CPC award. Funding sources will remain as an agenda item .
8 . Brewster housing update : Ms . Scalise had 25 community requests for assistance which
included questions about the Millstone timeline, Habitat Phase II, rehabilitation assistance and a
variety of other housing areas . The rental situation is worsening on the Cape and people are
feeling they may have to consider moving off Cape because they cannot find rentals . There were
74 application for 8 Habitat homes ; the drawing will be in July. There is a Trust round table
being held in Yarmouth on April 24th . There are 2 ADUS in permitting and 2 more slotted for
May, plus a lot of inquiries about ADUs .
9 . Any other business not anticipated : None
10 . Approval of minutes from March 7 , 2019 : Mr. Hackert moved the minutes, Ms . Hillis-Dineen
second with one small amendment of name misspelling. The Trust voted unanimously in favor as
amended .
11 . Adjournment : Mr. Hackert moved adjournment at 7 : 16pm, Ms . Hillis-Dineen second . The Trust
voted unanimously in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna J. Kalinick
Assistant Town Administrator
Approved May 16, 2019