Affordable Housing Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date: January 24th, 2007
Present: Sarah Del Mastro, Steve McClain, Rob Garrity, Bill Crump, Jeanette Wood
Absent: Bill Crane, Dan Winslow
Guests: Bob Nicodemus (MPSC), Walter Byron (MPSC)
Others present: None
Meeting was Audiotaped “(Affordable Housing Committee Meeting (1/24/07)”
Meeting called to order: by Sarah Del Mastro at 7:10pm, in Room 25, Town Hall
Business:
1. Approve minutes for Jan 3, 2007 Made by Steve McClain. Seconded by Rob Garrity. Approved by unanimous vote.
2. Webpages were discussed and approved with minimal changes. Webpages will be made available on the Affordable Housing page of the website and can be released to Matt (Boomerang)
3. Updates:
* Meeting schedule for AHC – 7th February, 28th Feb, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
* Consultants from CHAPPA/DHCD should be available to come out and visit us in March. General agreement that other boards should have notice of the meeting.
* Aff Hsg Plan, - DHCD letter handed out. Minimal changes have been requested. Steve McClain will convey to Gino Carlucci. Gino and Sarah will work to complete the changes required.
* Schedule for Town Mtg approval – At next mtg we will need to establish language for warrant article.
* CPC funds figures – 300,000 in affordable fund, 1.6-1.9 in general fund, to be confirmed.
* AHTF – Funds can be transferred from CPC to AHTF. Can make funds more flexible.
* Oak Knoll – Open Space subdivision. Will have affordable units under inclusionary zoning bylaw.
* Donna Jones email
* Status of MPSC discussions and need for high level goals which may drive changes to aff hsg plan.
4. Discussion of 'Brainstorm' list – Postponed til next meeting
5. Any other business - None
<At this point, meeting was continued to Room 214>
6. Meeting with Master Plan SC, Rm 214, 7:30pm
Discussion regarding establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and trustees utilizing CPC monies for the simplification of purchases.
Auction opportunity. Would require a Town Mtg unless funds are available via AHTF. It may be worth considering making a transfer from CPC to AHTF @ spring town meeting.
Areas for denser development – commercial and business districts. There is one remaining parcel in C4 which could be developed. Town Center (B1) (apts allowed above commercial) and Southwoods (C6) areas would also be possibilities.
Inventory of Town properties- need to know how was it acquired and what restrictions apply, and determine possible uses. Such an inventory would be key to production of housing on public land: landfill, old town hall, water dept. Some of it may be usable to develop housing.
Transportation from new developments to town center may be beneficial.
Public/private partnerships might be viable strategy for Norfolk.
Rob Garrity: Erikson Communities – Build retirement communities typically 2000+ units. Might be able to develop Southwood property with a scaled down development.
Bob Nicodemus: Companies which purchase brownfields properties at below market rate, clean them up and develop them, might be interested in Southwoods.
Rob : Expedited permit might be an option for Southwood. Mainly for R&D.
Where can we change a single into a multi? With special permit? Specific zones? Bill Crump: Sweetland Farm could be moved to town land and converted? Town could do it as a 40B/LIP?
Sarah Del Mastro: A presentation of Aff Hsg Plan and intro to aff hsg, could be a part of MPSC forum in March
Bop Nicodemus: Population demographics of aff hsg. Three generation groups driving population, commerce and industry. Baby Boomers = 72million+, X Gen=40mil, YGen = 78mil+ (large users of affordable housing). Many in the affordable category, need to get to /from jobs economically and cannot afford to stay in their hometown. The Town of Norfolk has enough housing for the middle age population but is lacking in the younger and older population housing. Bob has seminar Toronto 2005 info.
Mass transit and fiberoptic availability are assets which may help define downtown.
Housing needs study – Rob: Town needs to decide what it wants to look like – all family? Place for everybody? We have limited one/two bedroom units.
Sarah: Peter Chipman owns a parcel of land beside Town Hall in an area that could potentially be suitable for affordable housing. There was a discussion about infrastructure improvement to encourage Downtown development.
Conclusion:
Next Meeting – Feb 7th, 2007, location to be determined.
Meeting adjourned @9:08 pm. Motion made by Steve McClain, seconded by Rob Garrity, approved by unanimous vote.
Recorded and typed by Sarah Del Mastro
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