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Trust outlines five‑year housing plan tied to MCI redevelopment, eyes transfer fee to fund it
Summary
The Conquered housing roundtable advanced a draft housing production plan that sets three goals—plan, fund and develop—and proposes 200 incremental affordable units over five years alongside hundreds of attainable units linked to the MCI redevelopment. Trustees discussed inclusionary zoning and a state‑enabled real‑estate transfer fee as funding options.
Matt Johnson, chair of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, presented a draft five‑year housing production plan at the roundtable that narrows town objectives to three priorities: set targets by income and unit type; secure ongoing funding; and deliver housing through zoning and development strategy. "We have stood at just a sliver over 10% of the SHI since April," Johnson said, framing the town's flexibility to pursue other affordability tiers while MCI redevelopment proceeds.
The draft calls for about 200 incremental affordable units over five years and anticipates that the MCI Conquered redevelopment would supply a large share of attainable units. The plan lays out tiered targets across AMI bands — including a proposal to pursue some very‑low income projects that could qualify for tax credits and grant funding, and a larger number of moderately priced "attainable" units that would rely on design, density and inclusionary rules rather than deep subsidies.
To pay for ongoing support the trust discussed two funding strategies that organizers have been pursuing at the state level: a local real‑estate transfer fee and a building‑permit surcharge. Meeting participants said modeling at example thresholds suggested roughly $2–3 million a year in revenue is feasible under current market conditions, though thresholds, exemptions and growth assumptions would materially change yields. Select Board member Cameron McKenna, speaking for himself, said he was "strongly opposed to additional taxes and additional fees," arguing the town already pays a high tax burden; others urged a coordinated statewide push to improve prospects for local enabling legislation.
Trustees also discussed policy tools they expect to bring to town, including inclusionary zoning (examples floated: 20% of units at MCI set as affordable) and targeted CPC allocations. Matt Johnson said the group will pursue both legislative resubmission and local zoning work: "we want to be positioned" if statewide options advance.
Why it matters: the plan is intended to tie new supply from the MCI redevelopment to clear affordability outcomes and to create a predictable funding stream for the trust’s work. Next steps include a follow‑up Trust meeting (July 23) and a public illustrative‑plan presentation by consultants on Sept. 9 at Conquered High School.
