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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AHSC - 09/12/2018 Cohasset Affordable Housing Steering Committee Meeting Minutes September 12th, 2018 Town Hall 41 Highland Ave., Cohasset MA 02025 Attendees: Robert Jeffers Paul Kierce Susan Sardina Bridget Bearden Peter Hobson Clark Brewer Noreen Browne (Habitat for Humanity, phone) Not in Attendance: Beth Tarpey Jack Creighton 7:05 PM meeting called to order by Rob Jeffers. The Affordable Housing Committee has been invited to present at the next Board of Selectman's meeting, next Tuesday, September 18. Rob Jeffers will present on the status of the committee and Habitat for Humanity will present their ideas on 808 Jerusalem Road. Approximately 30 minutes are expected to be allocated to affordable housing during the meeting. Noreen Browne discussed their plans for presenting to the Board of Selectmen. She thinks they would present Habitat for Humanity history and current projects, including the Duxbury project which has duplex-style homes. Habitat for Humanity homes and maintenance are self-sustaining financially without need for municipal funds on any repairs in the future. The committee requested that Habitat have sketches for both a two family and a single-family unit. Habitat is willing to work with local architects, although they have an architect that they regularly work with who volunteers their time. The contribution from the town for a Habitat development does not need to come from the Affordable Housing Trust. Selectmen need to agree to release the property and then they also need to agree to fund the development through CPC. Bridget to send Noreen a picture of a two-family split level. Clark Brewer believes the permit required for Habitat would be comprehensive, which often takes 6-9 months. Habitat indicated that their comprehensive permits often pass through more quickly because they are smaller projects and very familiar with the process.The committee requests that Habitat speak to the community building aspect as well as the neighborhood relations aspect during the Board of Selectmen meeting. Town administrators are very focused on the MAPC, as they will be completing the Housing Production Plan (HPP). A Statement of Work has been signed to complete the HPP. MAPC does the HPP at a subsidized rate, and the funds for which will come from the general account and not from the Affordable Housing Trust. The HPP timeline under MAPC may also be six to nine months out. The committee agrees that the Habitat project and the HPP should be viewed as independent but related. The committee also agrees that the Habitat project can be pursued while the HPP is being developed. After review of the July meeting minutes, a motion to approve was made by Susan Sardina seconded by Clark Brewer. Vote was unanimous. Clark Brewer provided an update to Avalon discussion for expanding the footprint by another 20-25 units. Avalon believes they can expand the footprint. Smith Place development seems likely to opt for inclusionary development which requires two affordable units for the size of overall development instead of the buy-down. But these would not be complete for at least 18-24 months. Paul Kierce provided an update on veteran's housing. Neighborwoks looked at a few different properties online. While Neighborworks would prefer the property behind the rec garage because it is in the village, other properties are still options. On September 13, the Neighborworks representative will look at Cohasset properties in person, everything that Neighborworks does counts as 40B. They have on site superintendent to manage the property. The next meeting is tentatively October 16t", place TBD. Clark Brewer motioned at 8:27 PM to adjourn, seconded by Paul Kierce and vote was unanimous.