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Yarmouth housing committee reviews MassWorks examples, consultant work for Mattaqueese site planning
Summary
Committee members heard a consultant update on MassWorks-funded models and early ideas for the Mattaqueese (Muck) site, including density examples, modular construction, phasing and school interest; consultant materials will be circulated for further discussion.
The Town of Yarmouth Community Housing Committee on Feb. 10 heard an update from staff about work with consultants from Barrett Planning Group to refine site-selection criteria and design ideas for the Mattaqueese (referred to in the meeting as the “Muck”) property.
The committee was shown MassWorks-funded examples from Cape Cod and off-Cape—Brewster Woods, Oak Bluffs’s Southern Tier and Mashpee Commons—to illustrate different densities, site designs and financing approaches. Mary (staff member) said the Southern Tier example averaged about 7.7 units per acre while an Edgartown project reviewed was roughly 4.7 units per acre. Mashpee Commons was noted as a mixed-use, modular project with the ground floor commercial and the upper floors rental housing, and a developer-set 25% affordable component.
Mary said the consultant is compiling three broad concept ideas and is charting MassWorks grant precedents to show what the program has funded: infrastructure, street work and site improvements for projects that later built housing. She said the consultant will send materials by email and committee members should not reply to the consultant (to avoid unlawful deliberation outside a public meeting).
Committee members discussed site phasing and the potential for modular construction to reduce cost; Mary said the Mashpee example was prefabricated and “they priced it out, and it was less expensive.” The committee also heard that the Yarmouth schools are preparing to participate in capital planning for the site and may request funds to study placing a new elementary school on the property.
The committee noted two consultant bids have been received for work tied to the site, and the Affordable Housing Trust meets Feb. 18; the next Community Housing Committee meeting is scheduled for March 12. Mary recommended convening the committee earlier if the consultant’s materials warrant another public meeting.
The discussion was framed as preliminary planning and information-gathering; the committee did not take any formal action at the Feb. 10 meeting on site selection or funding.
