Affordable Housing Growth & Development Trust Fund Board | May 2, 2025

Watch the meeting. AI supported summary below. Corrections welcome.

This meeting included discussion of the following topics: Planning and Reporting Updates, Project Updates, Board Appointments and Reappointments, Correspondence and Future Meeting Agenda Items.

Key Points

• Planning and Reporting:
  • Presentation to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) regarding the letter of intent and year-end report. The CPC accepted the letter of intent.
  • CPC members expressed interest in more involvement in affordable housing activities.
  • Discussion about a possible CPC member serving on the trust, but the appointment authority rests with the chair, Mark Ells.

Editors note: Three of the five voting Board members on trust fund allocation are the Town Manager and town employees who report to the Town Manager. This may be the only town board that is so comprised. There is one member of the board with housing expertise.

• CPC seemed amenable to the transfer of funds.
• CPC members are interested in seeing the inclusionary ordinance expanded for a higher percentage.
• Project Updates:
  • Updates on Brat LLC project, Copa Cabana Realty, and the Housing Assistance Corporation project on Steven Street.
  • The Housing Assistance Corporation project requires a review by the town's legal office.
  • A key issue is the "surviving foreclosure" provision, as the Commonwealth Builders program's deed restriction doesn't align with the trust's bylaws.
  • Discussion on amending the trust rules and regulations to address the foreclosure issue, potentially with limitations specific to certain programs.
  • The board acknowledges the risk of not being able to protect their investment in Commonwealth builder type programs due to the possibility of foreclosure.
• Board Appointments/Reappointments:
  • Appointments are coming up. Mark Ells is working on filling the vacancy.

Editor's note. There is only one member of the board with housing expertise.

• FYIs and Correspondence:
  • Update on the shared regional housing services office that the county is working on with Barrett Planning.
  • The town is waiting for the scope of work and cost estimate.
  • Discussion about whether the office will be staffed by consultants or staff.
  • Consideration of additional monitoring needs for seasonal communities.
• Future Meeting Agenda Items:
  • Update on "Seasonal Communities."

Editor's Note: A "Seasonal Community" designation, a creation of the state which is optional for Barnstable, includes a requirement for the Town to change zoning in residential neighborhoods across Barnstable to enable small dense housing on existing lots.

• Preparing to go back to CPC.
• Discussion on reappointments.
• Proposed bylaw amendment regarding foreclosure provisions.
• Updated budget/financials.

Highlights

• The discussion surrounding the "surviving foreclosure" provision and the potential amendment of the trust's bylaws to accommodate the Commonwealth Builders program.
• The interest from the CPC in becoming more involved with the trust's activities and the potential for a CPC member to fill the current vacancy.
• The update on the shared regional housing services office and the town's specific needs within that program, particularly regarding seasonal communities.

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