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Yarmouth Affordable Housing Trust approves amendments allowing Habitat for Humanity to seek tax abatement and extended timelines for 1121 Route 28 project
Summary
The Trust voted Feb. 17 to let Habitat for Humanity apply for a property tax abatement and to extend permitting to four years and construction to six years for parcel B at 1121 Route 28; the Trust also approved allowing Habitat to apply for municipal fee waivers in a 2–1 vote and authorized the Chair to execute the amendment.
On Feb. 17, 2026, the Yarmouth Affordable Housing Trust approved a series of amendments to its Agreement with Habitat for Humanity related to parcel B at 1121 Route 28 in South Yarmouth.
Noreen Browne, director of land acquisition for Habitat for Humanity, reviewed three proposed changes: permitting Habitat to use its charitable status to apply to the Town for a property tax abatement; extending the development schedule so Habitat would have four years from acquisition to complete permitting and six years to finish construction; and allowing Habitat to apply to the Town for waivers of municipal fees associated with the project.
Trustee Deborah Clark moved and Trustee Mark Forest seconded the first amendment to allow Habitat to pursue a tax abatement; the Trust voted unanimously in favor with a roll call of Clark YES, Forest YES, and Vice Chairman Robert C. Lawton, Jr. YES. The Trust then voted unanimously to permit a four-year permitting window and a six-year construction window from the date of acquisition, again on a Clark motion seconded by Forest.
Trustees next considered allowing Habitat to apply for municipal fee waivers. Staff reported Trustee Robert L. Whritenour, Jr., who was not present, had expressed opposition to fee waivers. On the fee-waiver motion (moved by Clark, seconded by Forest), the roll call was Clark YES, Forest YES, Lawton NO; the motion carried 2–1. Finally, the Trust voted unanimously to authorize the Chair to execute the written Amendment as approved by Town Counsel.
Trust records and the draft Amendment (listed in the meeting exhibits) indicate the timing and fee changes are intended to reduce project costs and allow the construction schedule to align with planned wastewater infrastructure improvements along Route 28. The Trust did not adopt final construction funding or a detailed budget for the project at this meeting.
The Habitat amendments and the authorization for the Chair to sign the amendment were the principal formal actions relating to 1121 Route 28 at the Feb. 17 meeting. The Trust’s recorded votes on those motions appear in the meeting minutes.
