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Affordable Housing Trust reports housing-plan progress, urges CPC transfers and zoning changes
Summary
The Town of Southborough's Affordable Housing Trust told the Select Board it has completed a five-year Housing Production Plan, has about $1 million in resources and is pursuing property purchases and partnerships while urging CPC transfers and a planning-board warrant article to lift the 55+ zoning cap.
The Southborough Affordable Housing Trust updated the Select Board on Jan. 20, saying it has completed a five-year Housing Production Plan and is pursuing a mix of small purchases and developer partnerships to expand permanently affordable housing.
“This is kind of the key mission … to create and support affordable housing in Southborough,” said Doug Manns, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust. Manns said the trust has five staggered members and has been active in updating the town’s housing-production goals and seeking opportunities in the real-estate market.
The trust reported the Community Preservation Committee transferred roughly $500,000 to the trust last year and said the trust is asking that CPC reserve $100,000 be maintained while any amounts above that be considered for transfer in future town-meeting actions. Manns told the board the trust has about $1 million in funds in an invested trust account and is exploring how interest income and principal could best be deployed toward additional affordable units.
The trust also discussed a planning-board warrant article to change the town’s 55+ zoning cap. Trust members said the existing bylaw caps 55+ units at about 7% of town housing and that removing or adjusting the cap would spur new senior housing while including on-site affordability. “We want to stay on track with 10% overall for safe harbor under Chapter 40B,” Manns said, adding that the draft moved from 12.5% to 15% and that the trust recommended a smaller percentage to avoid discouraging developers.
Board members asked whether the Select Board should send a letter to CPC encouraging transfers of funds above the $100,000 reserve; Manns said he would welcome the board’s support. Manns also said the trust has met with nonprofit developers such as Habitat for Humanity, has bid on several single-family homes (and been outbid by the market), and has discussed larger projects of roughly 20–40 units with potential nonprofit partners.
The trust said it will continue to explore state funding and technical assistance opportunities after an earlier MHP technical-assistance application was not selected. The trust adjourned its portion of the meeting after a short motion and vote.
