8/4/2015 AFFORDABLE HOUSING Minutes

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Chairman Abbott provided a history of the Affordable Housing Committee to Selectman Cotton, including the drafting of the Affordable Housing Plan and the request for Town owned land to be considered for affordable housing. Among the parcels considered was 950 Falmouth Road and 209 Old Barnstable Road. The Chair summarized the revocation of 950 Falmouth Road, and the feasibility study completed on 209 Old Barnstable identifying a possible 20-30 affordable units_ The Affordable Housing Committee participated in all meetings regarding the 209 Old Barnstable feasibility study. The Committee wished to move forward on the parcel, but the Town decided to combine the parcel with 950 Falmouth Road, requiring an additional feasibility study. The 209 Old Barnstable parcel has now sat for two years and the Chair recently learned that a contract was awarded to Horsley Whitten to conduct a partial feasibility study on 950 Falmouth Road, and that the results would be available in time for the BOS meeting. As it turned out,there was no meeting, and the Committee has never been invited to attend any meetings regarding the current feasibility study. Mr. Isbitz added that the AHC had been investigating cottage housing as a possible option to offer j single family, efficient, affordable housing, saving space with combined parking. More information was available on the joint workshop offered by the AHC and the Cape Cod Commission as a link on the AHC web page. Mr. Isbitz pointed out that cottage housing could provide attractive housing that would be compatible with what was already located in the area. Chairman. Abbott referenced abutters located at Quashnet Valley Condos and Quashnet Valley Estates, and his efforts to keep those residents informed about plans for the parcel. A mixed reaction has been received from abutters. Mr. Willard, sitting on the Committee, is a resident of Quashnet Valley Estates. There was discussion about Great Cove and housing developed by Habitat for Humanity_ The Chair noted that 33 units were needed each year for Mashpee to eventually meet its affordable housing goals. It was noted that the Mashpee Wampanoag housing would provide 53 units,,while Mashpee Commons may eventually provide 96 units, but only 13 expected by 2016. Selectman Cotton stated that he was excited to be working with the AHC and agreed that more solid information.was needed from Mashpee Commons regarding their construction plans of affordable housing. Selectman Cotton recommended that a spreadsheet type format showing a full accountability of the available affordable housing, including the number of units, number of points credited toward affordable housing and expiration date. The Chair stated that Mr. Fudala had a matrix of the properties, but that addresses were not available. Selectman Cotton recommended identifying what was now present in the town, what was the time frame for maintaining the properties as affordable and identifying the best locationsitop 3 priorities. There was discussion regarding the Land Distribution Project featuring just two developable parcels located in the Reserve category. Selectman Cotton recommended identifying ideal locations for affordable housing. Mr. Isbitz indicated that professional staff may be needed to pull together some information, though not available, to identify expiration dates of affordable housing restrictions and subsidies. The Chair referenced land set aside for VFW housing, which was not to be built, but suggested the possibility of an affordable housing development featuring a VFW meeting room. There was further discussion regarding the completed and the anticipated feasibility studies and it was noted that as time passed by, Mashpee was continuing to miss funding rounds for the development of affordable housing. There was also further discussion regarding the need to approve and resubmit to DHCD the Affordable Housing Plan since the last plan was not properly submitted. It was noted that the Plan incorporates goals set for a number of Town Departments in order to meet Mashpee's affordable housing goals. Ms. Stone inquired about who was responsible for ensuring that the Plan remained active and though it was suspected that it was the Town Planner's responsibility, it was noted that he had no staff to assist him in his efforts. 2 k