HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2023-01-05 MinutesBrewster Housing Trust
January 2, 2023, 5:OOpm Virtual Meeting
Housing Trust Members Present: Donna Kalinick, Tim Hackert, Maggie Spade -Aguilar, Vanessa
Greene, Ned Chatelain, Paul Ruchinskas
Others Present: Jill Scalise, Housing Coordinator, Robert Tobias, Finance Committee Liaison
Absent: Madalyn Hillis -Dineen
1. Call to Order: Chair Hackert called the meeting to order at 5:05pm, read the required
notice for :virtual meetings, and declared a quorum.
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2. Citizen's Forum: Chair Hackert read the Citizen's Forum description and recognized
Glenn Casey. Mr. Casey said he was at his home in Ocean Edge over the holidays and
saw that survey markers were in place. He wanted to know who paid for the survey. He
wanted to,know if site work would begin prior to the estimated construction date of
February 2024. He asked in the financial plan if the $75,000 for 212 Yankee Drive would
cover the $45,000 of remediation and also, asked about the $1 million for Millstone,
where tha� would come from. He also asked about the $300,000 for buy down program
and if that was for one home or could be spread out. Chair Hackert said we would
address th'e questions at the appropriate time in the meeting.
1. Millstone'Affordable Housing Property update: An updated schedule for the project is
in the packet. Ms. Scalise shared that POAH &HAC have filed for their Comprehensive
Permit with the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The first public hearing will be February
7, 2023 and there will be public notice. The ZBA will distribute the Comprehensive
Permit application and we will put it on the website. Ms. Scalise and the Town Planner
will also b� meeting with Mass Housing Partnership to request technical assistance for
the ZBA. P:OAH &HAC are also scheduled to present to the Housing Partnership at their
February 6th meeting. The Comprehensive Permit process is very clearly laid out and
notice to abutters will be done as required. Ms. Scalise noted that any survey work that
has been done is being done by the developer. Ms. Kalinick stated that POAH &HAC
have been letting us know when they have had people on site, mostly Horsley Witten
doing soil testing etc. They are also working with the Town's project team and engineer,
VHB, regarding anything that needs to be done upfront in conjunction with the
Millstone Road reconstruction project. Ms. Kalinick explained that POAH &HAC would
go out to bid for construction, whether they use all one contractor for site work and
construction is really up to them. Brewster Woods was unique because the Town
received a'Massworks grant and bid and contracted for the phase one site work. Mr.
Ruchinska� said that typically no work can be done until they receive their financing and
close on the construction loan. Chair Hackert said in terms of the 1 million dollars, $750,
000 is projected to come from the Trust and $250,000 is projected to come from CPC.
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2. Housing Trust Financial Plan and possible discussion: Ms. Kalinick said the final updated
plan is in the packet. The financial plan will be provided to the CPC for discussion and
comment at the joint meeting. Later it will be provided to the Select Board and, as an
FYI, to the�Finance Committee. The Trust financial plan will be part of the FY24 budget
documents as the forecasted 1 million dollars is carried in the five-year capital plan for
the town. Ms. Kalinick said that in terms of Mr. Casey's other question about the
$75,000 Trust line item for 212 Yankee Drive that it is not specific to the remediation.
We worked with town counsel to determine what was CPC eligible and what was not
and the Trust carried the amount that was estimated not be CPC eligible. At the end of
the project, we will have a full accounting of what came from the Trust and what came
from CPC funds. Mr. Ruchinskas said that we are carrying an amount in the plan for
future development in relation to one or both of the Sea Camps properties. He thinks
we shouldlconsiderputting out an RFP for land like Chatham does. Ms. Kalinick said that
money is not just for the Sea Camps, but for any land or development that the Trust
might undertake as the Trust's role in Millstone is coming to an end. Future land or
project development should bean agenda item for a future meeting. Chair Hackert said
we had talked about reaching out to Brewster Conservation Trust, and he would be
willing to do that. Ms. Spade -Aguilar asked if we had an inventory of town owned land
and expectation for uses. Ms. Scalise said we have an inventory of some town owned
land and some that has been considered for housing. Ms. Kalinick said we do not have
an exhaustive inventory. There were some other parcels that were to be looked at for
housing. Ms. Kalinick said the Select Board has on their Strategic Plan to look at expand
the role of the Open Space Committee to a Real Estate and Acquisition Committee that
looks at all of the town owned land and what it might be used for. Chair Hackert said we
can put this on a future agenda item to look at town owned parcels.
3. 212 Yankee Drive project update, discussion, and possible vote: Ms. Scalise and Ms.
Kalinick were at the property today, meeting with Public Works who are going to assist with
cleaning out the garage and the yard. The collaboration and cooperation with town
departments is great. We are still working on the septic inspection work. Ms. Kalinick said
that she and Jill Scalise met with Jean Stanley from TRI and their rehab specialist. The scope
was made more robust and specific and then the advertised quote documents were put out
through the Central Register, Commbuys and the town's website. There is a walkthrough
next week wifh quotes due on January 20th. We hope to have this work done by March and
at the same tih�e, put the larger scope out to bid. We have had about 8 firms take the quote
documents out. Mr. Chatelain asked if they were on Cape companies. Ms. Kalinick said a
few are which; is common in construction bids that you get a few Cape companies, and the
rest are usually within a 1.5 hours. There are more road construction companies on Cape
than general construction companies that do municipal work.
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4. Joint Mee�ing with Community Preservation Committee (CPC): Chair Hackert shared a
draft agenda with the CPC. The CPC had a meeting yesterday and Chair Ellis had
wondered,�about adding a discussion about the program that is taking place in Vale, Co.
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Ms. Scalise said this is not an item that the Trust has discussed, and she does not have
enough information to provide an overview. Mr. Ruchinskas said it is an interesting
model, but it may not qualify for the Trustor CPC as there are no income requirements
and no deed restrictions. He does think it is premature to have this discussion. Mr.
Ruchinskas also said that he thinks we need to reorder the items to be discussed and
put the Trust guidelines first then talk about the Financial plan. Ms. Scalise said the
meeting is;scheduled to be hybrid and she believes that means a quorum of the Trust
has to be present. Ms. Kalinick said that requirement will begin on March 15t. The CPC
has already started meeting in person. For this joint meeting, Trust members can join in
person or remotely. Chair Hackert and Ms. Kalinick plan to be in person. Chair Hackert
said we need to discuss the Buy Down program and what will go in the packet for the
joint meeting. Ms. Scalise said she put in the packet today a description of the buy down
program with decision points and this would go in the packet for the meeting with the
CPC. The program is almost out of funds now, so we need to decide how to move
forward and who will oversee the program. Ms. Scalise put together an example of a
market rate buy down program as information. Any decision about a market rate buy
down program is secondary. There is also information about how much funding went
into past developments which Mr. Tobias had asked about last month. Mr. Chatelain
asked if it,was accurate to say that the minimum amount for a market rate buy down at
6% interest rate is about $300,000? Ms. Scalise said yes unless you consider condos. Mr.
Chatelain asked if the future re -sale is based on the bought down price; it is. Chair
Hackert said we will include the one pager on the buy down for the CPC meeting, but we
will hold off on a discussion about a market rate program. Ms. Scalise recommended
that if there is discussion about changing the current program or creating a new
program, She thinks the Housing Partnership should be involved because the buy down
program originated with them. Ms. Scalise said we need to go step by step and the first
decision is who will oversee the current buy down program; the CPC or the Trust. Chair
Hackert and Ms. Scalise went through the items that will be included in the packet for
the joint meeting.
5. Housing Coordinator Update: Brewster Woods received their certificates of occupancy
and are finishing the leasing process. Habitat will begin their site work on Red Top Road
soon, working with the water department and public works departmerit. This coming
Monday, the Select Board will hold a public hearing about the FY22 CDBG regional grant
for housing rehabilitation and childcare funding. There have been a few resales recently,
including � Habitat home on Paul Hush Way; there were 12 applicants. Mr. Ruchinskas
asked if there were any other SHI homes that were of concern. Ms. Scalise said for 11
Sean Circle, owned by Fannie Mae, additional work has been done on the property after
the Trust laid for a home inspection. We hope to have it go to re -sale soon. There is a
property on Belmont Drive that we have tried to communicate with the owner. It may
be a house that requires Trust intervention, though we are not currently on the deed
rider.
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6. Cape Cod Sea Camps updates, Trust member for Pond Committee: Chair Hackert said
that Mr. R':uchinskas is resigning as the member to the Pond Parcel. Mr. Ruchinskas said
Reed Hildorbrand has started discovery work. At yesterday's meeting, the consultants
solicited feedback from committee members about their desires and concerns.
Recreation and conservation were the priority items; housing opportunities are limited.
The Pond Parcel Committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Chair
Hackert volunteered to be considered. Ned Chatelain asked Mr. Ruchinskas about his
comment on the limited housing opportunities. Mr. Ruchinskas said the parcel is
challenging with half the parcel in a Zone II and there are endangered species and
wetlands.;Mr. Chatelain asked about nitrogen reducing septic options. Mr. Ruchinskas
said it would have to be, but the other issue is the Water Commission contributed
funding and wants to protect the Zone II land. BCT also wants a conservation restriction.
Ms. Kalini k said that the Select Board presented town meeting articles that presented
all optionsto be considered, including housing. Ms. Kalinick said like any parcel, you
have to do your due diligence and mitigate any impacts. Ms. Kalinick said the area that is
Zone II is surrounded by residences. You have to look at the long-term picture and this is
an area where you might consider a neighborhood treatment plant. The parcel may or
may not be appropriate for housing. Ms. Kalinick said that the pond area is stunning,
and it would be a lost opportunity not to have active recreation here. The topography of
the parcel: is challenging. Ms. Kalinick explained the appointment process, but the
agenda does not have a vote on it so we will have to hold this until the next meeting
then it will move through the Select Board process. Chair Hackert will attend the next
meeting as a resident just to listen, but not as a voting member. Maggie Spade -Aguilar
said the Bay Committee is primarily working on opening the pool for this summer and
will be having a community forum on January 17 at 6pm to garner resident input. Mr.
Chatelain noted that they continue to receive requests for use of the parcel and there
will be a number of town sponsored events in the spring/summer.
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7. Discussion of Meeting Format: Ms. Kalinick said the Select Board has voted to allow the
public to attend meetings in person as of March 1St, The Select Board remote
participation policy which is in the packet will now govern which means a quorum of
members have to be in person and the Chair has to be in person to chair. Committee
members .heed to attend at least 50% of the meetings in person. The public will have the
option to attend in person or remotely. There will be some navigating for the Chair and
keeping track of attendance. Scheduling will still go through the Town Manager's office
because you need the large screens to do hybrid. February can be virtual but for March,
we have to have a quorum in person to meet. Chair Hackert asked who will keep track
of the 50% attendance requirement. The Chair is supposed to, but Donna Kalinick & Jill
Scalise will provide support. Paul Ruchinskas asked Mr. Chatelain why the Select Board
made thisidecision as he feels participation has been better with virtual. Ned Chatelain
said the Select Board has discussed this many times and received feedback from
committees, but the regulatory committees and the public has increasingly asked for in
person patticipation since this fall. It is hoped that the exceptions will work for
committee members and that robust public participation will continue. Ms. Kalinick
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noted that the current legislation that allows remote participation is expiring on March
15th. Mr. Chatelain said the Select Board would like to hear continued feedback from
committees on meeting format.
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8. For Your Information: Ms. Scalise included a flyer for the Lower Cape Housing Institute
training on Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities. Chair Hackert noted that
the Town report for the Trust is due on February 17th. Items to include would be the
Millstone RFP, Yankee Drive, the rental assistance program and the creation of the Trust
guidelines. Ms. Spade -Aguilar and Ms. Kalinick will bring a draft to the Trust at our next
meeting.
9. Any other��business not anticipated: None
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10. Approval of Minutes from November 3, 2022 and December 1, 2022: Paul Ruchinskas
moved to'rapprove the November 3, 2022 minutes with technical comments from Chair
Hackert, Ned Chatelain second. A roll call vote was taken. Donna Kalinick-Yes, Maggie
Spade -Aguilar -Yes, Vanessa Greene -Yes, Paul Ruchinskas-Yes, Ned Chatelain-Yes,
Chair Hackert-Yes. Ned Chatelain moved to approve the December 1, 2022 minutes with
technical comments by Chair Hackert, Vanessa Greene second. A roll call vote was
taken. Donna Kalinick-Yes, Maggie Spade -Aguilar -Yes, Vanessa Greene -Yes, Paul
Ruchinskas-Abstain, Ned Chatelain-Yes, Chair Hackert-Yes.
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11. Next Meeting: February 2, 2023 at 5PM, Virtual and Joint meeting with CPC on January
11, 2023.
12. Adjournment: Ned Chatelain moved adjournment at 6:14PM, Paul Ruchinskas
second. Airoll call vote was taken. Donna Kalinick-Yes, Maggie Spade -Aguilar -Yes,
Vanessa Greene -Yes, Paul Ruchinskas-Yes, Ned Chatelain-Yes, Chair Hackert-Yes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna Kalinick r�.
Assistant Town Manager
Meeting Packet: https•//portal laserfiche com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=195254&repo=r-
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Approved: February 2, 2023
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