Westborough delegates housing partnership appointments to Affordable Housing Trust and backs bill to ease project bidding

The Westborough Select Board voted June 11 to delegate appointing authority for the town’s Housing Partnership Committee to the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust. Under the motion the trust may appoint the partnership either as a committee of the whole or as a subcommittee including trustees and residents, provided at least one trustee serves on it.

Select Board members said developers have begun reaching out to town staff and the trust seeking guidance and potential local subsidy; staff told the board the trust has already been carrying much of the pre‑application engagement work for two target properties. The delegation is intended to streamline developer assistance and speed decision‑making within the parameters approved by Town Meeting and the attorney general.

Separately, the Select Board authorized staff to submit written testimony in support of House Bill 4679, which the board said would amend bidding requirements for certain affordable housing projects in Westborough. Staff and MassHousing technical assistance estimated the act could reduce project costs by roughly 20% for the two properties under discussion and improve eligibility for low‑income housing tax credit financing.

The board moved and approved both actions during the meeting; staff said the trust will continue to work with developers and state partners to advance affordable housing opportunities for larger projects the trust has prioritized.