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Select Board moves on several housing items: endorsements, a Brownfields support letter, and a tabled funding rescind
Summary
The board endorsed a Local Initiative Program application for one affordable home at 21 Pheasant Lane, approved a modified letter supporting an EPA Brownfields assessment grant for asbestos work at 545 Main Street, authorized an ACC amendment for the Falmouth Housing Authority and tabled a proposal to rescind a prior $3.4M award for 545 Main Street until May 18 while seeking additional confirmations; the board also voted not to support a revised LIP for 809 Sandwich Road.
The select board considered multiple housing matters spanning small‑scale affordable homeownership, large site redevelopment and grants during its May 4 meeting.
21 Pheasant Lane (LIP endorsement) Falmouth Housing Trust requested a town endorsement for a Local Initiative Program application to build one three‑bedroom house to be sold to a household at or below 80% of the area median income. The proposed home is designed for visitability, energy efficiency (heat‑pump HVAC, LED lighting), solar readiness and an advanced septic system; proposed sale price is $285,000. After a neighborhood outreach session and a staff recommendation, the board voted to endorse the LIP application for submission to the state.
545 Main Street (funding award and Brownfields support) Select board staff reported that a prior purchase‑and‑sale agreement tied to an earlier $3.4 million conditional award to Bushwood 545 LLC had expired and the property owner had executed a new agreement with Falmouth Housing Corporation. Staff recommended rescinding the prior award to allow funding to be awarded to other projects; discussion was extensive and, after hearing from multiple board members and town counsel about legal and timing considerations, the board tabled the rescind decision to the May 18 meeting to allow confirmation and due process.
Separately, the board approved sending a revised letter in support of an EPA Brownfields assessment/abatement grant requested by Falmouth Housing Corporation to fund asbestos surveying and up to $500,000 of abatement at 545 Main Street, with staff to refine the letter to clarify the board’s position would not bind future permitting decisions.
Falmouth Housing Authority ACC amendment The Falmouth Housing Authority presented its five‑year capital priorities and requested the select board approve and execute the federal Consolidated Annual Contributions (ACC) amendment to accept capital funding for repairs such as piping replacement at Tatakut and envelope and mechanical upgrades at Rose Morren and Harborview. The board approved the ACC amendment.
809 Sandwich Road revised LIP Northland Residential outlined a revised LIP filing for 809 Sandwich Road that reduces the number of deed‑restricted rental outcomes and shifts several units toward homeownership after delays tied to a safe‑harbor claim and higher entitlement costs. After extensive debate about the town’s housing production priorities — which favor rental inventory for workforce households — the board voted not to support the revised LIP submission to EOHLC.
Next steps: Staff will return with confirmations on the Bushwood 545 matter for the May 18 meeting; the Brownfields support letter will be finalized and transmitted; the endorsed LIP application for 21 Pheasant Lane will proceed to the state EOHLC.
