HomeMy Public PortalAboutHousing Partnership -- 2017-11-15 Minutes Brewster Housing Partnership Minutes i
11/ 15/ 17
Members present : Vanessa , Diane, Ralph , Steve, Lisa , Ned , Sarah , Jillian
Guests present : Jill Scalise , Donna Kalinick, Cynthia Bingham
Meeting called to order at 6 : 00 .
1 . Approval of Minutes of prior meeting as amended .
2 . Jill Scalise presented information regarding Municipal Housing Trusts
Housing Trust is noted as a strategy on the Housing Production Plan
Most towns on the Cape have one
Requires a group of trustees; at least 5
- Trustees have authority to purchase or lease property, which allows the town to
respond quickly to procure desirable properties in order to preserve affordable
housing; - More efficient than waiting for town meeting to vote, has authority
to re -sell property maintaining deed restriction for affordability;
Recommend using various funding mechanisms (vs . just CPC funds ) that do not have
same restrictions
Members discussed whether Housing Trust Funds could be considered to include rehab
of properties
question : How can BHP support the creation of a Housing Trust? A . Jill will email
informational resources to BHP committee members and invite speakers to future
meetings;
- Question : What would encourage owners of an affordable property to do their own
upkeep ? A . There is a formula to have an owner recoup funds upon sale of property
( example of an affordable house on Yankee Drive in disrepair — a Housing Trust may
allow funds to rehab a property for re-sale ) ;
Question : Does the town own property? A . CDP manages Nickerson Condominiums
3 . Brewster Woods 40B —
Ryan reached out to BHP for feedback; membership will provide a letter of support to
ZBA; there was discussion regarding the number of permits ( is not unusual , as it
streamlines the process ) ; timeline spelled out in the application is not likely to be met,
needed to have the application in by November for tax credit ( cannot be granted until
permits obtained ) ; public hearing scheduled for 11/28/ 17 at 7 p . m . ZBA meeting;
4 . ADU Bylaws ( continued discussion from last meeting )
-Zoning — need to "clean up" current zoning laws
-Outreach to town department leaders
- " Model" bylaws could be modified to address concerns ( i . e . square footage size )
- Brewster Visioning process included discussion of ADU ' s and allowing multi -family
homes
- Ryan applied for a state grant for technical assistance to draft an ADU bylaw; will be
notified January, 2018 .
- Brewster Community Network — meeting on 12/7 will discuss ADUs; Ned will represent
BHP .
5 . Other Updates
- Brewster Visioning —meeting 11/14 — in data collection process; more outreach to come .
Discussions regarding housing included questioning need for zoning changes, allow housing
above businesses, multi -generational housing, housing options near public transportation .
Town planner would need to be involved .
- Cape Housing Institute — BHP Members are participating and gaining expertise on Mass
Housing Partnership grand opportunities, community outreach , etc .
- Town has requested that BHP consider having our meetings televised . Members agreed to
have December 20th meeting televised .
Meeting adjourned at 7 : 20 . Next meeting : December 20 at 6 : 00 p . m .
Respectfully submitted ,
Lisa Forhan