Yarmouth committee reviews Route 28 projects, Ready Renter wait list and a $150,000 fee-in-lieu

Vice Chair Drew Krauss opened the Town of Yarmouth Community Housing Committee meeting on April 13, 2026, and the committee approved minutes from July 14, 2025, and March 9, 2026.

Mary Waygan, the town’s Affordable Housing/CDBG program administrator, told the committee that Habitat for Humanity received an eligibility letter to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for six affordable homes at Wood Road (1121 Route 28, South Yarmouth). Deirdre Gaquin said a mixed‑use project at 645 Route 28 in West Yarmouth is expected to include a restaurant, retail and 11 residential units, four of which would be one‑bedroom affordable units; the developer has received Affordable Housing Trust funds and the project will be reviewed by the Planning Board.

Gaquin also reported discussion of a redevelopment at 811 Route 28 where a laundry room might be converted to an accessible apartment; the conversion had not been confirmed.

On financing and in‑lieu fees, Gaquin said a six‑unit luxury townhouse project at 703 Route 28 has opted to pay a fee in lieu of providing on‑site affordable units. The Planning Board review tied the payment to median sale‑price calculations and indicated a fee amount of $150,000. The Planning Board asked the proponent to consider providing four lower‑level parking spaces per unit rather than the two‑space minimum.

Waygan described the Ready Renter general wait list and the Cape‑wide lottery process the town runs to market inclusionary units and document state compliance. The program’s marketing and administration cost about $25,000; developers typically pay roughly half. Of 75 inclusionary units located across Falmouth, Barnstable and Dennis, 35 are in Yarmouth. Waygan said there were about 180 households on Yarmouth’s Ready Renter list, primarily seeking studio or one‑bedroom units. "Anyone interested in receiving an application for the Ready Renter General Wait List should email MWaygan@yarmouth.ma.us or call (508) 398‑2231, extension 1275," she said.

In other reports, Greg Wheeler said the HOME Consortium added three members and unanimously approved its 2026 action plan; the U.S. Senate approved HOME funding for the next year, and HUD income limits were delayed until May. Vice Chair Krauss said the Yarmouth Housing Authority will meet April 21 to discuss a potential Forest Road site near the Senior Center; an engineering report is expected regarding water and septic capacity and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership will advise on a possible RFP. Waygan said the Affordable Housing Trust will meet April 21 to finalize an RFP for acquisition assistance on Route 28 parcels.

Deirdre Gaquin reported Planning Board items including an expansion at Becker’s Liquor Store that would add two apartments and a minor Route 28 village‑center setback zoning change added to the Town Warrant to address potential land takings for Route 28 widening. Lee Hamilton said the Community Preservation Committee will meet to finalize articles for Town Meeting on April 28. Waygan asked for volunteer assistance to follow up on the recently passed federal "21st Century Road to Housing" bill; Myra Suchenicz volunteered to help.

The committee scheduled its next meetings for May 11 and June 8 at 3:00 p.m. On a motion by Deirdre Gaquin and second by Greg Wheeler, the committee adjourned at 4:07 p.m.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved minutes for July 14, 2025 (motion: Lee Hamilton; second: Greg Wheeler) and March 9, 2026 as amended (motion: Greg Wheeler; second: Lee Hamilton) by unanimous roll‑call votes. The adjournment motion (Deirdre Gaquin; second: Greg Wheeler) also passed unanimously.