8/2/2018 AFFORDABLE HOUSING Minutes

Home Browse Search

The Chair stated that it was their goal to encourage developers, with a strong record of performance, to respond competitively to the RPP with affordable housing proposals allowing the Committee to choose a developer offering good architectural design, that would meet the need in a feasible and cost effective way. The Chair reported that Mr. Taylor was speaking with Selectman Gottlieb to further understand his position. It was expected that final reports would be available by August 16 so that the Committee could provide a recommendation at the next Trust meeting. The Chair inquired whether there was additional comment. Richard Terry, Attorney for South Cape Resort, stated that he had attended the meeting with the Affordable Housing Trust who had voted that the project must meet zero net nitrogen. The Chair responded that the Trust requested that the Committee explore the issue further and report back whether or not zero net nitrogen could be met, including the implications of meeting the goal. The Trustees could reconsider and modify their position with additional information provided. Mr. Johnson inquired whether the project was 40B or by right, adding that it was his opinion that the Trust could not require anything less than the Town's Bylaw of 5 mg/L. Mr. Abbott agreed, adding that they would need to change the Zoning Bylaw to require meeting something less than 5 mg/L. Mr. Abbott pointed out that the Town was not requesting the same of Mashpee Commons. Mr. Abbott stated that,the nature of 40B would allow developers to work outside of some town regulations, adding that it would be reviewed by the ZBA and not the Planning Board. Chairman Isbitz responded that the RFP would not specify the project to be 44B, adding that it would be up to the developer to determine how best to finance the project. Mr. Johnson stated that a developer could not be required to meet below 5 mg/L and, though sympathetic to the concerns of South Cape Resort, an RFP should be developed based on what was allowed by Mashpee's regulations. The Chair responded that they had a responsibility to also improve the environment in which they lived, noting that if it could be done, while also keeping the project feasible, and as a town-owned project, could place their own requirements that may be more stringent. However, doing so could set a precedent for future projects. The Chair suggested the possibility that a developer may be willing to fulfill such a requirement, and could be part of the RPF process by offering higher consideration for developers able to meet below 5 mg/L. The Chair indicated that there were a number of considerations to be reviewed. Mr. Lehrer noted that town regulations specified a minimum to meet 5 mg/L, not to exceed 10 mg/L but suggested providing a range in the RFP to read 0 mg/L of nitrogen, not to exceed 5 mg/L, which could be enticing to a developer. The Chair responded that they would be working as a group with Mass Housing Partnership to draft an RFP. Mr. Terry inquired whether members of the Committee had reviewed Brian Howe's study regarding wastewater and the condition of Mashpee's water and the Chair responded that he had not. Mr. Terry suggested that Dr. Howe's study over seven years showed that Mashpee had destroyed the Town's waters through the addition of nitrogen. It was Mr. Terry's opinion that anything that added to further degradation of the water was not acceptable. Mr. Abbott responded that he had read the newspaper article but Mr. Terry responded that it was a 53-page study that should be reviewed by the Committee. The Chair encouraged Mr. Terry to submit the document to the Committee. Mr. Terry inquired what the Committee would be doing about the issue of the degradation of the water and the Chair responded that it would not be the burden 2