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Housing trust rescinds plan to buy 91B Main Street after environmental assessment flags contamination risk
Summary
After a Phase I environmental assessment identified potential contamination near a former gas station, the housing trust voted to rescind its request to the Select Board to acquire 91B Main Street and to return $629,000 for reallocation.
The Conquered Municipal Affordable Housing Trust voted April 14 to rescind its previous request that the Select Board approve the acquisition of 91B Main Street after staff and counsel flagged potential contamination near a former gas station adjacent to the parcel.
Elizabeth (staff) summarized the Phase I environmental assessment and told the board that the site near the former gas station has identified environmental concerns; the assessment indicated the town could assume responsibility for cleanup if it acquired the property, though claims for contribution from other parties remain possible. “If the town assumes ownership of 91B Main Street, the town would also assume responsibility of any potential cleanup that might be needed at the property,” she said.
Members said the potential costs and legal risks raised by the assessment made the acquisition impractical. Mary Hartman said the development risk increases the town's exposure: “We can't afford to buy a piece of land that has that much risk associated with it,” she said. Several trustees proposed short-term alternatives for the funds, including combining the trust's bridge loan money with ARPA funds to acquire and rehabilitate one or two existing homes for workforce households.
Trustee Matt Johnson moved to rescind the request to the Select Board and to deprogram $629,000 earmarked for 91B Main Street so the funds can be reallocated; Rich Feelely seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by roll call.
The trust asked staff to present options for near-term uses of the funds at a subsequent meeting (examples discussed included a buy-and-rehab for workforce housing and using town-owned parcels instead of state-owned MCI land). The board also noted it will continue attending MCI master-plan meetings and monitoring other town-owned sites that could be developed for housing.
Next steps: the trust will formally notify the Select Board of the rescission and schedule a follow-up to decide how to reprogram the $629,000 for short-term affordable or workforce housing activities.
