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HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2020-10-08 Minutes Brewster Housing Trust October 8, 2020 5 : OOpm Virtual Meeting Present : Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas , Donna Kalinick, Tim Hackert , Maggie Spade - Aguilar, Jill Scalise , Madalyn Hillis - Dineen , Sarah Robinson Absent : None Citizen Comments : A number of emails were received and posted in the public packet . Additional emails came in during the Trust meeting and were shared with the Trust . 1 . Call to Order : Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 01pm and read the required notice for virtual meetings . 2 . Financial Report : Ms . Kalinick included the financial reports for the Trust . There has been no change since last month ' s report . There is currently $ 386 , 901 in CPC funds and $ 183 , 305 . 87 in non - restricted funds . There is also $ 1 , 471 . 46 in interest that was accrued over Fiscal 20 which needs to be divided out . The total amount of funding on hand is $ 571 , 677 . 33 . Millstone Community Housing Property, follow - up discussion on presentation , 3 . questions and comments . Possible vote on next steps : Ms . Scalise went over what actions the Trust has taken since the September 3rd meeting . The email comments were sent to Trust members . Ms . Scalise compiled and organized some of the questions and comments into one document . The working group met and discussed the presentation , ch could include a watershed analysis and preparation of a feedback and next steps whi fact sheet to bring to the Trust at their November meeting . Ms . Scalise requested an example of RFP scoring/ evaluation criteria from MHP for November . Ms , Scalise , Ms . Kalinick and Mr . Lombardi met with Ocean Edge Management & Howland Association presidents . The main tenor of the discussion were concerns about outreach to Ocean Edge , flooding concerns , factors in site location and water easement clarification and communication going forward and timeline of the process . Mr . deRuyter requested information about the meeting and the response to the concerns . Ms . Scalise said that some Ocean Edge homeowners expressed concern about outreach and were surprised by the Millstone development process . Ms . Scalise stated that outreach began in Spring 2018 in coordination with the Town meeting vote to purchase an access parcel and designate the Millstone property for community housing . Information sessions were held as well as discussion at Town Meeting . Additional forums were held about the Trust' s work . For Millstone , in the past year, three Community Engagement Sessions and two online surveys , with over 200 responses each , were also held . The Housing Production Plan ( HPP ) and Vision Plan were also processes which involved community engagement . Announcements for these Millstone events involved newspapers , Town website and email lists , the normal outreach avenues used . Prior to the first, October 3rd session , postcards were sent to abutters within 300' based on a list from the Assessor' s Office . At Ocean Edge postcards were sent, not to all homeowners but , to the Ocean Edge Resort and to the Ocean Edge management company, with a Boston address listed on the Assessors' Ocean Edge management mailing label . Ocean Edge residents expressed concern that they did not receive these initial postcards . Sending the postcards out was over and above what was required for this process . In the future , if there is a ZBA hearing for a comprehensive permit, notifications would be sent to all property owners . There was a desire moving forward to make sure we are in good communication . The Trust appreciates the input that has been received all along the way from the Housing Production Plan and Vision Plan to the Housing Trust and Millstone property . There was a lot of discussion about flooding concerns . Howland Circle experienced some flooding in 2018 , as depicted in pictures in the packet . This is an existing problem for their property, but the Trust wants to be responsive and we will discuss possible next step of doing a watershed analysis . Mr . Hackert said that he thought the concern about flooding was already answered by Bohler Engineering . Chair deRuyter stated that this is where we are at , we have a piece of land , they have flooding issues . We have no reason to believe the property is contributing to their flooding issue , but if we do a watershed analysis now, it just lends positively to the dialogue and concerns . Ms . Kalinick said she has a draft watershed analysis scope that she will be sending to Bohler to get a quote on . The analysis would look more deeply at water flows , onto and out of the property into the abutting lands , all of them , not just the northern side . This is an action that the Town Is taking before starting drainage projects around town . The developer will still be required to do a full stormwater plan once the buildings are sited . Ms . Spade - Aguilar stated that she wants to make sure to maintain equality in this process because there is an impact on all resident for this project . She asked if this watershed analysis proposal is in response to a group of people who are fortunate enough to have a management company who can advise them and she wants to make sure there is equality amongst other abutters and other townspeople . Ms . Hillis- Dineen noted that the watershed analysis would consider other abutters, not just Ocean Edge and that is why it Is something that she considers worth doing . Chair deRuyter suggested we take a vote on this step . Mr . Hackert moved that we authorize up to $ 10 , 000 for a preliminary watershed analysis , Mr . Ruchinskas second . A roll call vote was taken . Madalyn Hillis - Dineen -Yes , Paul Ruchinskas-Yes, Tim Hackert -Yes, Sarah Robinson -Yes , Donna Kalinick- Yes , Maggie Spade - Aguilar- No and Chair deRuyter-Yes . The roll call vote was &Yes , 1 - No . In terms of the other concerns , the site location of the possible buildings was discussed and clarification made about the water easement on the southern boot of the parcel . This is a very large main which actually feeds Ocean Edge water . It was decided from the beginning that a road could be built over the easement, but not buildings . Also , because the parcel is so large , infrastructure costs to use the whole parcel would be prohibitive and there was a desipen space . Since the access road oe re for keeping some o northern end and the existing housing there is more in line with what we are proposing, siting the concept plan on the northern end made more sense forthe Trlust asonso is tasked The conversation was positive and helpful . Ms . Kalinicl< noted that with considering everyone' s comments as well as the needs of the community as a e Housing Plan . The Trust will integrate this whole reflected in the Vision Plan and th he concern about communication moving forward , Ms . input into our planning . For t Scalise sent afollow- up email to Ocean Edge management and Howland presidents with timeline & information about Trust meetings . A timeline has been available sin18 s and and regularly updated . The Trust should consider a response letter to question comments which Ms . Scalise will draft . Many of these items have already been addressed throughout the process , although it would be helpful to provide a future timeline of steps and to have a good communication process with Ocean Edge abutters . ill continue to be responsive to all abutter concerns as we The Trust has been and w move forward in the development of the Millstone Road Community Housing project which is a priority goal for the Select Board and the community . Ms . Scalise will prepare a draft response letter document for the next meeting . 4 . Rental Assistance Program , with Covid emergency funding update : We did outreach and are beginning to receive inquiries . Ms . Scalise received 3 calls today . Housing Assistance Corporation ( HAC ) has not d Brewster provided iMrtgage Assistance ) . HAC will alk assistance through Eg with residents and determine the best funds to use . Ms . Spade -Aguilar asked about eligibility of the Brewster rental program or ERMA, as one is capped at 4K and ours is at 6K ; can we bridge the gap between them ? Ms . Scalise said we will work with HAC on the different available programs and how they work together to assist residents . Ms . Spade - Aguilar asked if it would it be same for regular assistance program . Ms . Scalise is communicating weekly with HAC to make sure the intent of the Trust is being followed . She will discuss details with Ms . Spade - Aguilar offline . 5 . Preservation of Affordable Housing, including Yankee Drive update, discussion and possible vote : Ms . Scalise and Ms . Kalinick have been working with legal counsel to try to find out the amount of Mass Health lien , but have not been successful . Legal counsel has recommended that we proceed with a judicial foreclosure , based on the tax lien . We are waiting to get more information on that process . 6 . Follow - up discussion on joint meeting with CPC and upcoming CPC grant requests : ity Preservation Chair deRuyter stated that the joint meeting with the Commun Committee ( CPC ) was a good conversation about how to work best together . In terms of requests for December 15t, Ms . Kalinick, on behalf of administration , will put in an application for the Housing Coordinator funding at 25 hours . Ms . Scalise will be preparing a rental assistance application for two more years of funding for $ 200 , 000 . The CPC has been a close - knit partner in our housing work . We do need to provide them a financial forecast of a 5 year planning strategy . 7 . Funding of Housing Trust : The goal is to develop a 5 year forecast for CPC and the Select Board to outline the long term financial needs of the Trust before spring town meeting . Chair deRuyter said that he thinks it would be better to have staff prepare and bring back to the Trust to review versus a formal subcommittee . This task will fall to Ms . Kalinick . She will try to prepare a draft for the November meeting, but is very busy with the Massworks project right now . 8 . Housing Partnership potential presentation on Local Preference : At the Brewster Housing Partnership meeting, they had an initial discussion about Local Preference as a policy decision . The Partnership decided to invite the Trust and Select Board to a joint meeting with an educational presentation on Local Preference as a policy . Is the Trust interested and would they be willing to sponsor this ? The Trust agreed that they are both interested and would be willing to sponsor it . Ms . Scalise and Ms : Kalinick will bring back additional information . 9 . Housing Coordinator update including Brewster Woods & 873 Harwich Rd : Ms . Scalise reported that the Brewster Town COVIDI9 relief fund is now active . There have been 7 to 8 applications , some for housing, which is dovetailing with rental assistance . The Lower Cape housing peer group will be meeting next Friday from 10 to 12 . She will send around the flyer . Elevation Financial will be in front of ZBA on 10/ 13 for their continued hearing for a zoning use variance to redevelop Wingate into 134 units of 55 + housing . After ZBA, they will go to the Planning Board for site plan review . They will work with the town on the local action unit process to designate 20 % of the units as affordable . Ms . Kalinick reported that they will open bids for Brewster Woods , Phase I infrastructure work tomorrow . There has been robust interest from contractors and Ms . Kalinick with Preservation of Affordable Housing have started the outreach process to the Housing Authority and Wells Court , Ms . Scalise said that she received a subsequent email re ; Millstone Road since the meeting started . A clarification was made by a resident that the Ocean Edge Homeowners Association is not pressuring owners to make comments , simply providing information . Mr . Ruchinskas noted that in the Housing Coordinator report, there were 50 requests for information or comment . Ms . Scalise said about 33 of those were in relation to Millstone , but there were also a lot of questions about ADUs , land for housing and a myriad of other housing related questions . 10 . Any other business not anticipated : Mr . Hackert noted that the CDP had an inspirational article about Mr . Ruchinskas and his wife ' s housing work . He also asked if the Trust would see the joint minutes with the CPC . Ms . Kalinick said they will be prepared by the CPC admin and will be our next meeting as an FYI . 11 , Next Meeting : The next meeting has been scheduled for November 12th at 5 : OOpm . 12 . Approval of Minutes from September 3 , 2020 : Mr . Hackert moved to approve the minutes of September 3 , 2020 with technical changes, Ms . Robinson second . A roll call vote was taken . Madalyn Hillis - Dineen -Yes, Maggie Spade -Aguilar-Yes , Paul Ruchinskas - Yes , Tim Hackert-Yes , Sarah Robinson -Yes , Donna Kalinick-Yes , Chair deRuyter-Yes . 13 . Adjournment : Mr . Hackert moved adjournment at 6 : 2Opm , Ms . Robinson second . A roll call vote was taken . Madalyn Hillis- Dineen -Yes , Maggie Spade -Aguilar-Yes , Paul Ruch inskas-Yes , Tim Hackert -Yes , Sarah Robinson -Yes , Donna Kalinick-Yes, Chair deRuyter-Yes . Respectfully Submitted , Donna J . Kalinick Assistant Town Administrator Housing Trust public packet : http • // records . brewster- ma ova ebL ink/ Browse aspx ? dbid = 0 & startid = 116185 & row = 1 & cr= 1 Approved January 7 , 2021