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Affordable-housing advocates want sale proceeds tied to trust fund; statute limits today's vote
Summary
Attendees urged conditioning a discontinuance on payment to the affordable housing trust and questioned whether redevelopment would deliver any on-site affordable units; the town attorney said the town meeting could not amend the council's action under state law.
MANSFIELD — Multiple speakers at the Aug. 10 special town meeting urged that any proceeds from a future sale or conveyance of land under Carriage House Drive be directed to the town’s affordable housing trust fund.
Paul Stern, who identified himself as chairman of the affordable housing committee but said he was speaking only for himself, proposed that the discontinuance be conditioned on a negotiated conveyance price and that sale proceeds be dedicated to the affordable housing trust. "The land should be sold...and whatever revenue comes from this piece of property...that money should be going straight into the town's affordable housing trust fund," Stern said. The town’s parliamentarian explained that under the statute governing discontinuances, the town meeting’s role is limited to a yes-or-no vote on the council’s action and cannot legally add conditions at this stage; supporters and some councilors said they would advocate for using any future proceeds to support affordable housing as the process continues.
Town councilor Ben Shakin and others said planning and zoning review and later council action create additional opportunities to negotiate conveyance terms and any commitments on affordable housing.
