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Housing Advisory Board asks consultants for scenarios to develop Sandpit property as $200,000–$300,000 homeownership
Summary
At a June 24 meeting, the Housing Advisory Board asked consultants to produce development scenarios and a storyboard for the Village-owned Sandpit property, focusing on $200,000–$300,000 affordable homeownership, possible retirement housing, zoning and wetland constraints, and a public engagement plan.
The Housing Advisory Board met June 24 in the Village Boardroom at Harrietstown Hall to review consultant work on the Sandpit property and to set priorities for development. Board members discussed targeting affordable homeownership in the $200,000–$300,000 range and asked consultants to prepare multiple development scenarios and a conceptual storyboard for the site.
The Board also considered a retirement-focused community as an alternative use that could appeal to different demographic groups. Tiny homes were raised during the discussion but were described by participants as a lower-level option given current market interest, and the Board asked consultants not to prioritize that form.
Board members emphasized regulatory constraints that will shape any proposal, including Village zoning and parking requirements and wetland protections. According to the meeting record, a wetland delineation has been completed for the site but has not yet been approved by the APA. The Board noted that a vehicle street from Lake Flower Avenue into the north end of the site appears infeasible; members discussed a pedestrian and bicycle trail as a potential access alternative.
Because the Village owns the Sandpit parcel, the Board discussed using that ownership to place restrictions or requirements on future buyers. The Board asked consultants to outline the resources and legal mechanisms the Village would need to manage and enforce such restrictions.
On public engagement, consultants will propose stakeholder interview categories (for example, real estate professionals, bankers, and builders). Board members will supply contact names for those categories; broader public outreach and potential homebuyer engagement were described as possible later-phase activities. The Board also asked members to research existing local housing developments — specifically The Lofts, Trudeau Village and DeChantal Apartments — to inform unit mix and target market decisions.
The Board set a follow-up meeting with the consultants for August 11 at 4:00 p.m. in the Village Boardroom. The consultants are expected to return with recommended housing types, development scenarios, and implementation guidance, including options to address zoning, wetlands, and buyer restrictions.
