HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-8-15ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS ,o
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, August 15, 2015, at
4 Fairgrounds Road r
1. Attending: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Lucas Fischer (from
10:30 a.m.), Don Green (from 10:09 a.m.), Peter Kahn, Sue
Matloff, Bill Sherman, and Jay Strauss, plus guests Anne Kuszpa,
Executive Director of Housing Nantucket, Peter Halle and Joan
Bassano. Members absent: Lou Bassano and Tony Walsh.
2. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at
10:02 a.m. and, noting that a quorum of 8 was not yet present, went
on to introduce our guest Anne Kuszpa. Anne explained that
Housing Nantucket [HousingNantucket.org = HN] is recognized as
a Sec. 501(c)(3) nonprofit to promote housing on Nantucket
affordable by low -to- moderate income households. (In contrast the
Nantucket Housing Authority, a Town entity, targets low income.)
HN appoints its own members and focuses on Nantucketers. It
currently manages 30 rental properties with 6 more coming.
Besides rentals, HN is able to support ownership.
3. HN derived from the Housing Authority in 1994 in the early
awareness of affordable housing as an island issue. With the help of
a consultant, supported by ReMain Nantucket and Nantucket
Community Foundation, HN has this year updated a 2001
workforce housing needs sturdy. See:
http: / /www.housingnantucket.or /g 2015 Housing_NeedsStudy Exec
utiveSummary.pdf
4. Anne urges the Town to increase the stock of affordable housing to
exceed the level (10 %) above which a developer no longer can
override local regulations relying on Ch 40B. Current level is
—2.4 %. The state likely would support a Ch 40B developer if
rejected by the Town's Zoning Board in a Comprehensive Permit
proceeding.
5. At the 2015 Annual Town Meeting, the developer of the former
Glowacki acreage (Richmond group, aka Richmond Great Point
Development LLC) sought zoning relief to build homes on smaller
lots. Without home prices <$675,000 and no affordability covenant,
the zoning relief was voted down. Some neighborhoods are averse
to housing with such covenants. The Richmond group now speaks
of seeking 40B relief for 264 apartment units and 105 houses (20%
with affordability covenants). Glowacki has a purchase money
mortgage on the Richmond group property.
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6. Recently reported in the I &M is a Richmond Great Point initiative
to build rental apartments with 28 total units on —2 acres. This is
allowed under Commercial Neighborhood zoning adopted at the
2015 ATM.
7. The Nantucket Housing Authority is doing a Ch 40B development
"Sachem Path" with 40 affordable units. A question was raised
whether the Planning Board at times waives a requirement of
affordable housing when asked to do that by a developer. The
requirement might be included in a proffer on which the Planning
Board conditions relief sought.
8. Housing Nantucket with ReMain Nantucket has asked American
Design to assess what affordable housing might be sited on the
Town's 6 acres at 2 Fairgrounds Road (former electric company
property). In the 8/20/15 I &M, announcement is expected of a Ch
40B project at 106 Surfside Road [4 apartment buildings, a
clubhouse and pool on 2+ acres]
9. Howard Blitman spoke from his experience as an off - island
developer of federal and state funds that could be tapped on
Nantucket. He saw no downside. State subsidized housing allows a
developer a profit on affordable housing. An income tax benefit is
available. Partnering with a nonprofit is favored.
10.A problem for Housing Nantucket is a shortage of staff that could
enable it to seek federal or state funding.
I LA 2010 proposal to increase the Land Bank fee above 2.5% to fund
affordable housing was voted down at the 2010 ATM.
12. Sue Matloff noted an impact on summer residents when, e.g., one's
caretaker lacks island housing and is forced to leave. Increased
availability of employer - provided housing doesn't answer the need
for seasonal workforce housing needed by caretakers, landscapers
and construction workers.
13.Housing Nantucket has a long list of Nantucketers applying for
limited number of affordable rental units, so must use multiple
criteria to select who gets to fill an opening. Owners of secondary
dwellings on their lot usually opt for seasonal vacation rentals
yielding $4,000 /week rather than rent year -round at much lower
rentals and more wear and tear. Voters have rejected zoning
changes that would limit secondary dwellings to their original
purposes. If restrictions could yield 1,000 affordable secondary
residences, much of the need could be met.
14.Anne Kuszpa left at 10:49 a.m.
15.Noting the arrival of the 8h ACNVT member, Howard declared a
quorum. The minutes of previous meetings including June 27, July
18 and August 1, 2015 were approved by unanimous consent.
16.Officers for FY2016 were nominated and elected by unanimous
consent as follows:
Chair Justin (Jay) Strauss
Vice -Chair Don Green
Secretary Bill Sherman
17.Our next ACNVT meeting was set for September 5, 2015. Don
Green and Howard Blitman (`Chair Emeritus') were asked to draft
a letter to the BOS making recommendations as to affordable
housing, for that meeting. Appreciation was expressed for
Howard's years of guiding ACNVT as its Chair.
18.The meeting was adjourned at 10:56 a.m. Our next ACNVT
meeting is set for September 5, 2015 (10 a.m. Saturday morning in
the PSF Training Room).
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e- distributed 8/21/15. Minutes adopted 7/16/16,
posted 7/20/16 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 7/20/16