The Town of Southborough housing committee agreed Monday to present its updated housing production plan at a joint in-person meeting with the planning board and select board on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the McAuliffe Hearing Room at the Town Meeting House. Committee members said the plan is ready for “prime time” and discussed next steps including pursuing a zoning change to remove or raise the town’s 55-plus (age‑restricted) housing cap.

The plan’s presentation and near-term steps matter because the committee and town leaders want to move from planning into actions that could increase housing choices for older residents and make room in the housing stock. Committee members said they will ask the boards to consider placing a zoning change on the fall special town meeting agenda, and flagged state funding and technical‑assistance programs as funding paths to help implement the plan.

Al, chair of the committee, said the housing production plan was the meeting’s main item and that he had reviewed it. “I can tell you I have reviewed it. I I think it’s really well done at this point. I think she’s incorporated all of our comments. I’m generally in favor of it,” he said. Committee members credited Sarah Brent for drafting the plan and said they would present the report and seek a brief, focused discussion at the joint meeting so the boards could ask questions and consider procedural next steps.

Committee members discussed a possible zoning bylaw amendment to remove or raise the existing limit on age‑restricted housing, which they said is currently capped at 7% of the town’s housing stock. Members suggested that if the boards support the change it could be placed on the November special town meeting warrant; zoning amendments would require the planning board to hold a public hearing and then, if approved at town meeting, a two‑thirds vote to pass. The committee also discussed alternative tools such as Chapter 40B and Chapter 40R as mechanisms that other communities have used to increase affordable housing supply.

Members outlined next steps: present a concise set of slides and key speaking points at the joint meeting (the committee agreed that committee members should lead the overview, with Sarah Brent and other plan contributors present to answer detailed questions), ask the planning board and select board to consider recommending a bylaw change for the special town meeting, and explore state technical assistance and grant options to fund part‑time implementation support. Committee members identified August 14 (moved to a 7 p.m. start), Sept. 11 (7 p.m.), and Oct. 9 as future meeting dates; they noted the planning board’s schedule may require an additional late‑July meeting if the boards need to act quickly.

The committee also discussed related programs and funding: the Community Preservation Act (CPA) application cycle is open through the summer; members said the housing CPA account has roughly $100,000 available and stressed the importance of demonstrating the town can execute on existing funds before requesting more. Members suggested the committee should pursue outside technical assistance or state funds to support implementation rather than relying on the committee’s limited internal budget.

Separately, the committee voted on routine minutes and to enter executive session on a property acquisition matter. Jesse Epstein said he would “abstain since I believe I missed the meetings” when asked about approving one set of executive‑session minutes; he voted with the majority on the later minutes. The board then voted to enter executive session under MGL chapter 38, section 21 (exemption 6) to discuss potential property acquisition, with the chair stating that an open meeting could have a detrimental effect on the town’s negotiating position.

The committee said it will be concise at the joint presentation given the planning board’s stacked agenda and that its primary “ask” at the joint meeting will be to put the 55‑plus cap discussion on a path toward public hearing and possible special‑town‑meeting action.

The committee did not adopt policy changes at the meeting; members agreed to follow up with the planning board, select board, and town staff on technical assistance, schedule details, and the wording and process for any proposed bylaw amendment.