Yarmouth Affordable Housing Trust approves $1 million acquisition fund, several targeted expenditures

The Town of Yarmouth Affordable Housing Trust voted April 21, 2026, to authorize up to $1,000,000 in General Deposit Funds for the development or acquisition of affordable housing and approved several smaller, targeted expenditures and program administration budgets.

The votes came during a regularly scheduled meeting convened at 9:30 a.m. by Vice Chairman Robert C. Lawton Jr. The three trustees present—Vice Chairman Robert C. Lawton Jr., Trustee Deborah Clark and Trustee Mark Forest—unanimously approved the actions recorded in the meeting minutes.

Trust action and context The Trust approved a draft Request for Proposals for development of affordable housing and voted to expend up to $1,000,000 of General Deposit Funds to support that program. The funds are to be awarded in two separate awards of no more than $500,000 each, and the Trust amended the RFP to require that eligible properties be underutilized or blighted, lie within the Route 28 Economic Corridor, and that awarded funds be used within 12 months of the award.

The Trust also confirmed its earlier decision to expend $25,000 of General Deposit Funds to continue a mixed‑use analysis of Route 28, based on a memorandum from Town Planner Kathy Williams dated April 16, 2026.

Smaller expenditures and preservation actions The Trust approved several additional expenditures: up to $25,000 to buydown a deed‑restricted rental at 282 Winslow Gray Road to an affordable home; up to $26,035.72 to preserve an affordable home at 61 Witchwood Road through foreclosure‑prevention activities, conditioned on the owner applying to the State RAFT program for arrears, applying for affordable rental housing, and demonstrating future financial stability; and administrative authorizations of up to $8,000 for the Ready Renter Program and up to $2,000 for the General Deposit Program. All motions were moved and seconded (movers and seconders recorded in the minutes) and passed with the three trustees present voting affirmatively.

Other business and updates Trustees tabled consideration of participation in the Barnstable County Shared Regional Housing Program until Trustee Robert L. Whritenour Jr. (the chair) could be present. The Trust received updates noting no new information on the 645 Route 28 mixed‑use development. Staff reported that Habitat for Humanity’s Wood Road neighborhood project (1121 Rt 28, South Yarmouth) received a Project Eligibility Letter, which enables a Chapter 40B comprehensive permit application to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Mattacheese Utilization Committee final report (presented to the Select Board on May 12, 2026) was provided to the Trust, and trustees noted the Community Preservation Committee’s April 8, 2026 public hearing where Chair Whritenour and staff member Mary Waygan testified on continued housing funding needs.

Procedural notes and next steps The meeting began at 9:30 a.m., with the Trust adjourning at 10:40 a.m. The minutes record that the meeting documents and exhibits include the draft minutes, the Kathy Williams memorandum, a Barnstable County email about the FY27 Shared Regional Housing Program, the April 2026 draft RFP for development of affordable housing, and the 2026 Mattacheese Utilization Project final report. The meeting record shows the actions were later approved on July 21, 2026.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (Feb 24, Apr 3, Apr 17, 2025): Motion moved by Deborah Clark; seconded by Mark Forest; outcome: approved (Deborah Clark, Robert Lawton, Mark Forest voted yes). - Route 28 mixed‑use analysis: Confirm $25,000 expenditure: Motion moved by Mark Forest; seconded by Deborah Clark; outcome: approved. - Ready Renter Program admin: Authorize up to $8,000: Motion moved by Deborah Clark; seconded by Mark Forest; outcome: approved. - General Deposit Program admin: Authorize up to $2,000: Motion moved by Deborah Clark; seconded by Mark Forest; outcome: approved. - 282 Winslow Gray Road conversion buydown: Authorize up to $25,000: Motion moved by Mark Forest; seconded by Deborah Clark; outcome: approved. - 61 Witchwood Road foreclosure prevention: Authorize up to $26,035.72 with three conditions: Motion moved by Deborah Clark; seconded by Mark Forest; outcome: approved. - Affordable Housing Acquisition RFP/fund: Authorize up to $1,000,000 (two awards up to $500,000 each) with added minimum criteria: Motion moved by Mark Forest; seconded by Deborah Clark; outcome: approved.

What the Trust did not decide Trustees deferred action on participation in the Barnstable County Shared Regional Housing Program until the chair could attend; no vote or direction on that program was recorded.

Byline and attribution The actions and motions in this article are drawn directly from the Trust’s April 21, 2026 meeting minutes as recorded by the Yarmouth Town Clerk. Where the minutes record a mover and seconder, those names are shown in the 'Votes at a glance' list. The Trust record contains no direct oral quotes attributed to speakers; the article summarizes motions, votes and staff updates as presented in the minutes.

Next procedural step The Trust’s minutes indicate the RFP and funding allocation will be administered under terms described in the draft RFP; parties seeking awards will need to follow the RFP process once issued. The meeting minutes were approved on July 21, 2026.