HomeMy Public PortalAboutAfford Hsg Trust Fund 2019-06-05 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board June 5, 2019
'19 JUL 12 9:14APi
ORLEANS AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD
JUNE 5, 2019
Approved July 10, 2019 ORLEANS TOW CLERK
A meeting of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board was held on June 5, 2019 in the
Skaket Meeting Room of the Orleans Town Hall. Present were Acting Chair Duane
Landreth, and members Alexis Mathison, Henry Brehm, Ward Ghory and Community
Development Director George Meservey. Greg DeLory and Matthew Cole were absent.
All documents discussed at this meeting are filed with the permanent records of the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board.
Mr. Landreth called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
There was no public comment.
Minutes to be approved: May 1, 2019
On a motion by Mr. Ghory seconded by Mr. Brehm, the Board voted to approve the
minutes of the May 1 meeting. The vote was 4-0-0.
Comments on the 2019 Annual Town Meeting
Mr. Meservey confirmed that articles providing for appropriations were not subject to
approval by the Attorney General and that the funds voted in Articles 13 and 33 would be
available as of July 1. An article for$275,000 will be on the Annual Town Meeting warrant
every year due to the override, while the amount of Community Preservation Act funding
may vary each year, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee.
In response to a comment by Mr. Landreth, Mr. Brehm agreed that voters in Orleans, and
in other towns as well, appear to be unfamiliar with the role of affordable housing trusts.
Ms. Mathison referred to the upcoming Community Engagement training in Wellfleet,
which several members planned to attend. Mr. Landreth suggested an evening panel
discussion as a way to communicate with voters. Mr. Ghory noted Brewster's recent
outreach activities, and Mr. Meservey observed that they had hired a part-time housing
coordinator.
Report on Trust Fund Assets
The Board reviewed the list of available funds and Mr. Ghory asked that Mr. Meservey
report how the appropriated funds are invested. Mr. Meservey confirmed that expenses
for Town Counsel services reflect title work.
Line of Credit
The Board will await further updates.
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Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board June 5, 2019
Meff Runyon, Selectman Liaison to the Affordable Housing Committee, joined the
meeting. In response to a question from Mr. Landreth, he said that it appeared that few
speakers at Town Meeting knew about the Cape Cod Five project. Mr. Landreth
summarized the Board's previous discussion, and Ms. Mathison suggested distributing a
flyer prior to next year's Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. DeLory joined the meeting.
Joint meeting with the Affordable Housing Committee
It was determined that the Affordable Housing Committee did not have a quorum.
Member Shelley Dawson was present.
Cape Cod Five Operations Center
Mr. Meservey confirmed that he had conveyed Affordable Housing Committee
comments to the architects and would forward the Board's comments as well. The
subsequent decision whether to go to the second phase of the project would be made
sometime in August. He reviewed the options previously described by the architects
and outlined the Committee's comments as follows:
• The project should have at least fifty units
• Connecting the two larger buildings would reduce elevator costs
• At least some of the vacant panhandle lot should remain natural
• Outside space should be large enough to reasonably be used by residents
• The emergency drive would serve a number of purposes
• Shared courtyard between the two larger buildings was desirable, as was
community space, open playing field and personal outdoor spaces like patios
• The development of micro units should be encouraged
The Board discussed the need for natural light and ventilation, configuration of units,
and proximity to the highway. Ms. Mathison suggested comparing types of units in
Landing's Edge and other public and private condominium housing. The Board and Ms.
Dawson also discussed green space, topography and parking in the various options,
and pedestrian access to Skaket Corners. They agreed that fifty units were necessary
for the tax credit and that would require micro units. Mr. Meservey noted that the
goal of the discussion was to eliminate factors that were not acceptable, to allow for
cost estimates to be developed for going out to bid. Mr. Meservey confirmed that at
present the Trust can pursue housing opportunities only for those which serve
populations with incomes up to 100% of medium income.
Other Housing Opportunities
Mr. Meservey told the Board that the Underground Mall property was at $2 million
and outlined the challenges that were involved in its redevelopment as affordable
housing. He asked whether he should proceed with talking to Ted Malone of
Community Housing Resource about a feasibility study of the site. The Board discussed
specific issues related to the location of the property.
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Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board June 5, 2019
On a motion by Mr. Landreth seconded by Ms. Mathison, the Board voted not to
approve authorizing a contract with Ted Malone to do a feasibility study of the
Underground Mall for affordable housing for a cost not to exceed $5,000. The vote
was 0-5-0.
Mr. Meservey noted that half of the property at 85 Bakers Pond Road had been taken
off the market and the other half had been sold. He also outlined possibilities for four
or five Habitat homes on Housing Authority land near Tonset Woods. Challenges
would include access through either Housing Authority or Town conservation land.
Mr. Meservey stated that he regularly receives notices of condominium units for sale,
and that purchase of these units for affordable housing has not been pursued due to
economic and other factors. He referred to the Town's 2009 condominium study and
noted that the Board would need a plan to effectively utilize these units. Ms. Mathison
noted that some of these would not be appropriate for year-round housing.
Outreach on Potential Rental Properties
Mr. Meservey reported that a consultant was working on the mailing list for seasonal
home owners without beach stickers, which could then be reviewed by the Board for
possible outreach to dovetail with the Rent 365 program.
Next steps
The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for July 10.
Adiourn
On a motion by Ms. Mathison seconded by Mr.Ghory,the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Board voted to adjourn at 5:40 p.m. The vote was 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Myra Suchenicz
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