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Dennis Affordable Housing Trust approves $25,000 in funding for Depot Street environmental test and Housing Production Plan
Summary
The Trust unanimously approved up to $15,000 for an updated Phase 2 environmental test at 187 Depot Street and up to $10,000 to cover a Housing Production Plan consultant gap; members also discussed the DHA rental subsidy timeline, the Church of the Nazarene workforce housing concept, and the hire of a new housing coordinator.
At its May 11 meeting the Dennis Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously to allocate up to $15,000 from the In-Lieu fund to pay for an updated environmental test at 187 Depot Street and to allocate up to $10,000 from the same fund to cover a shortfall for the Town’s Housing Production Plan consultant.
Co-Chair Robert Samoluk moved the environmental test funding motion; the minutes record a roll-call vote with Samoluk, Noreen Browne, PJ Rainwater, Kate Byron and Kayla Hilts voting aye and the motion passing unanimously. For the Housing Production Plan the motion to take up to $10,000 from the In-Lieu fund was made by Samoluk and seconded by Kayla Hilts; the minutes record the same unanimous roll-call result.
Votes at a glance: - Up to $15,000 from the In-Lieu fund for an updated environmental test for 187 Depot Street. Motion maker: Robert Samoluk. Second: not recorded. Roll-call vote: Samoluk-aye; Browne-aye; Rainwater-aye; Byron-aye; Hilts-aye. Outcome: passed unanimously. - Up to $10,000 from the In-Lieu fund to cover the Housing Production Plan consultant gap (to supplement a $40,000 DLTA grant). Motion maker: Robert Samoluk. Second: Kayla Hilts. Roll-call vote: Samoluk-aye; Browne-aye; Rainwater-aye; Byron-aye; Hilts-aye. Outcome: passed unanimously.
Other updates: Samoluk reported that the Dennis Housing Authority declined to extend the Rental Subsidy Program beyond 2028, meaning the current 19–20 participants will be allowed to finish their cycles under existing funding but the program will not be extended to 2029 as the CPC had anticipated. The Trust agreed to leave its prior funding position unchanged and to revisit the issue at the next meeting.
Samoluk also provided project updates: biweekly coordination meetings on 187 Depot Street are underway and the developer is reported as close to securing financing; the Church of the Nazarene property is being explored for workforce housing in partnership with Cape Abilities, with a conceptual plan to convert classroom and gym space into units and to keep a reduced unit count (minutes note a plan of 19 new units with 25% affordable to remain under relevant Cape Cod Commission thresholds). The Trust noted the recent passage of a Seasonal Communities designation and that it may offer opportunities for municipal employee housing. Foley and others will continue technical coordination.
Personnel and governance: the Trust recorded the hire of Ashley Eachus as the Town's Housing Coordinator beginning June 1, 2026, and encouraged Elias Cahoon Bayer to submit a formal application to join the Trust after expressing interest.
Meeting administration: April and May minutes approval was deferred because an incorrect date appeared on the agenda; the next meeting was confirmed for June 8, 2026.
What’s next: Staff will update the Trust on the 187 Depot Street ESA work and on any further required contractual or regulatory agreements; the Rental Subsidy Program timeline will be revisited at a future meeting.
