Housing committee OKs Habitat for Humanity application for 1121 Route 28 and authorizes chair to sign

The Town of Yarmouth Community Housing Committee voted to approve a draft application from Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod seeking an eligibility determination from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for a six-unit affordable housing development at 1121 Route 28 and authorized the committee chair to sign the application and a letter of support.

The application, presented by Noreen Brown of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and reviewed by staff member Mary, requests that the state place the project on the Subsidized Housing Inventory so Habitat can pursue a comprehensive permit under the state's Chapter 40B process. The committee's affirmative vote also included authorization for the chair to sign a separate letter of support to accompany the submission.

Why it matters: if the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities finds the site eligible, the state will conduct a site visit and issue a 30-day public comment period; after any comments are addressed the state can issue a project eligibility letter that allows Habitat to proceed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a comprehensive-permit application under Chapter 40B.

Committee discussion and next steps Committee members and staff discussed project timing, affordability levels and design. Noreen Brown said the project is a redevelopment on a parcel across the street at the corner of Wood Road and Route 28 and that Habitat purchased the property with support from the town's Affordable Housing Trust. Brown described plans for six modest homes and said the project had been delayed to await sewer service; she said the site is expected to connect to town sewer in fall 2027 and that site work could start in late 2026 with family selection in spring 2026.

Brown read the unit mix and price information shown in the packet: the application lists six units; the packet text states two 1-bedroom units, one 2-bedroom and two 3-bedroom units and notes pricing based on 2024 HUD income limits. The packet also shows illustrative price points cited in the meeting (as read aloud): the one-bedroom example at roughly $154,000 (60% AMI) to about $208,000 (80% AMI); two-bedroom example roughly $174,000 to $234,000; three-bedroom example roughly $194,000 to $261,000. Brown and staff said those figures will be updated to reflect the latest HUD/state numbers before final submission and may rise 5%–7% by 2026'27.

The committee asked the applicant to preserve deeper affordability where possible. Mary noted the trust had asked that the three units at the deeper subsidy level remain at 60% of area median income in perpetuity; Brown said Habitat will work with staff to request deed restrictions or regulatory language that preserve those units at the targeted income levels on resale. Brown also said Habitat has requested a local preference, including a possible veteran preference for one unit, which the state has approved in past applications.

Actions taken The committee held a motion to approve the draft application and to authorize the chair to sign the application and a subsequent motion to authorize the chair to sign a letter of support. Both motions were seconded and approved by roll call vote with all members present voting in favor.

What remains Staff and Habitat will finalize the missing plan sheet referenced during the meeting and provide updated 2025 HUD/state pricing for the application. After the housing committee and the Affordable Housing Trust vote, the application packet will go to the Board of Selectmen with a cover letter; the Executive Office will then review, schedule a site visit and issue a 30-day public comment period before a project-eligibility letter can be issued. Once eligibility is granted, Habitat will apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a comprehensive permit under Chapter 40B.

Quotes "So the application will be, be reviewed here. It'll be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen. And then once we have it all complete and agreed on, we'll be sending it off to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities," said Noreen Brown, representing Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod.

"There has to be an affirmative vote of the committee to authorize the chair to sign the application," said Mary (staff member), describing the committee's procedural next steps.

Ending The committee asked staff to circulate the missing plan for Lot 6 and to submit the updated HUD income/pricing numbers before the final packet goes to the Affordable Housing Trust and Board of Selectmen. The committee said members may attend the state site visit and the upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals hearing if the project advances to that stage.