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Staff reports quarterly work plan: hiring, programs, awards; trustees share Vineyard trip takeaways on land‑bank partnerships
Summary
Staff reported hiring an administrative specialist, awards for the 2026 housing production plan and rental‑preservation work, progress toward Tacoma Green closing, and several active programs; trustees reported Vineyard study‑trip lessons about land‑bank partnerships.
Trust staff summarized quarterly accomplishments and active programs for presentation to the select board, and trustees reported takeaways from a study trip to Martha's Vineyard.
Christy and Dylan said the trust hired Caroline Ferguson as an administrative specialist to handle agenda posting and liaison duties. Staff listed active initiatives and recent contract awards: the year‑round deed restriction pilot (application posted; staff said some program windows close Nov. 14), a lease‑to‑locals administrator RFP that received two bids and is pending RFP‑committee review, the 2026 housing production plan contract awarded to Barrett Planning, and a rental preservation program contract awarded to Placemate. Dylan said the trust will host WPI students to study unlocking housing potential in downtown Nantucket.
On larger development matters, Christy told the trust that Tacoma Green was "very close" to closing and staff were reviewing long transactional paperwork; she said Tacoma Green hoped to close by Nov. 6 and that pulling building permits would extend the town's safe‑harbor status. Staff also said Affirmative Investments (referred to in packet materials) is advancing ground‑lease and planning steps.
Trustees reported on a multi‑town visit to the Vineyard and Cape conference sessions. Penny Dye and others highlighted the Vineyard model: a long‑standing land bank (founded 1996) that sometimes conveys parcels with portions dedicated to housing, close coordination between land banks and developers, and a regional commission (Martha's Vineyard Commission) with regulatory review authority that the Vineyard uses to evaluate larger projects. Trustees said the Vineyard projects often combine preserved open space with clustered housing and rely heavily on rental programs supported by state and federal funding.
Trust members suggested inviting local land‑bank representatives to future joint sessions to explore similar partnerships. Staff said they would follow up on scheduling and engagement for joint meetings with the land bank and other partners.
Ending: Staff will present this quarterly summary to the select board on Oct. 22 and return with ongoing program updates at future trust meetings.
