[0:00] do not see her here. Um, and it looks like we have to wait for Allan to get

[0:04] reconnected. Um, but in the meantime, we could um

[0:11] uh we've got meeting minutes um that we could uh vote on um if anybody has any

[0:19] questions or thoughts on that.

[0:24] » I'm okay with them.

[0:28] Michael >> the meeting minutes. Are are you okay

[0:32] with the meeting minutes? >> Yes.

[0:36] » Okay. >> And thank you, Tom.

[0:38] » All right. Um Jeff. >> Yeah, looks they look fine to me.

[0:44] » Okay. >> Hi.

[0:46] » Hey, Alan. You got something blocking your camera part way.

[0:50] » Yeah, I know. It's kind of weird, isn't it?

[0:54] » That's weird. Can you hear us? Yeah, I can hear you.

[0:58] » Okay. You you sound very faint. >> Well, I'll try and take out my

[1:07] » can't hear you. >> Uh I can Can you hear me now?

[1:11] » Now I can hear you. Yeah. >> Okay.

[1:15] » Yeah. Half >> we just we we only see half your face.

[1:17] » Can you see your screen on the Allan? You're your part your half of your

[1:23] There you go. No, half of you is blocked.

[1:27] weird. >> Could it be the little toggle at the top

[1:31] of your if you're using a laptop? Maybe. >> Could be.

[1:36] » Oh, yeah. >> There you go.

[1:40] » There we go. That looks better. >> All right. So, do I have a vote on the

[1:45] minutes? >> I

[1:48] » I >> I

[1:49] » a second. >> I need a I need a I need a motion and a

[1:52] second. >> I'll second it.

[1:56] All right, we'll just take that as a vote. All in favor? I

[1:59] » I Wait, so who moved? >> Buzzy.

[2:02] » Buzzy moved.

[2:08] » Okay, that was easy. Um, next item,

[2:14] HYM's request for support of assisted living facility project at Reges. Um,

[2:22] so that's um I'm not sure we're ready to

[2:28] vote on that yet to be honest, but we certainly should be discussing it. Um,

[2:34] uh, let me do a quick summary of where things are. Uh, HYM has proposed

[2:41] um, Alan, how many units is it total? >> 15 total, 32 memory cache.

[2:48] » How many? 215 total. >> Yeah.

[2:52] » Yeah. Um so this will be at the Regis across the street on Welssley Street

[2:57] from Regis. Um uh several of us has been have been involved with HYM looking at

[3:03] this. Um they have presented to the planning board several times. Um

[3:10] uh there I would say the planning board activity on this has been really more

[3:16] focused on the site and the architecture than than the project or its impact.

[3:23] It's it's kind of weird. They don't seem to be they really want to it's almost

[3:28] like they want to be hands off on it um and just just address it from a

[3:32] technical standpoint. this the issue with this project is it will require a

[3:37] twothirds vote to change the zoning to allow um what what Regis wants to do.

[3:44] [snorts] Um my take on that is that if we had to

[3:48] vote today it would fail miserably. Um uh only because people don't understand

[3:54] it. Uh and the the nimi faction will be uh very viciferous. Um and partly

[4:02] because uh although HYM I think has been out there pretty well. I don't think

[4:06] Regis has made any effort to uh to be uh present in the town on this stuff. And

[4:13] then the the other factor >> isn't there also a history with that

[4:16] parcel of land with respect to >> Yes. Yes. About 10 or 15 years ago,

[4:20] Regis tried to do a a project similar to Lasal over in

[4:26] Newton and that that went down in flames, but it was not

[4:32] it was illconceived, ill-managed, and uh just just badly handled. Um the um the

[4:41] the the people at Regis at the time, the the the management were didn't try to

[4:47] work with the town at all. They just tried to slam it through and it it ended

[4:51] up crashing and burning. Um this one is, you know, I think they learned from that

[4:57] and they're trying to do a little bit better, but right now I think um I don't

[5:01] think Regis itself has made much effort to interact with the town very much. Um,

[5:07] and this I think this may be a may be an issue. I think also that there's kind of

[5:12] a uh

[5:17] ingenuous behavior uh on the planning board and select board thinking that

[5:21] okay, we just if we don't vote this in, nothing will happen. But my my take on

[5:26] it is that Regis needs the money and if they uh if the HYM project fails,

[5:32] they'll they'll flip to their other the the other biders they had on the on the

[5:36] property which are were number 40B developers. Technically, uh they could

[5:43] and uh you guys at the RHSO can um correct me if I'm wrong on this, but

[5:49] it's a 30 plus acre site. um they could divvy that up and bring in maybe say

[5:56] three different um 40B developers and drop up to 275 units on each each parcel

[6:05] uh giving us 6 7 800 units potentially. Um now that would be a a massive fight

[6:11] of course but uh it would be a far uh far crappier decision u than what hm

[6:20] is presenting. So and so this is this is a place where Weston is finds itself all

[6:27] the time which is having to accept the least worst decision and potentially

[6:33] usually or at least in the past usually going for the worst worst decision. Um

[6:39] and we've done this a number of times and and screwed ourselves which is why

[6:43] we have that project on route 20 route 30 and so forth right now because of

[6:48] because of our um the way we've handled things. So, so we have to we

[6:55] the trust could u

[6:59] propose to the select board and the planning board a letter of support for

[7:03] some particular solution here. Um I think there's a few more things that we

[7:07] need to learn. Um Allan and I are potentially talking to Regis tomorrow uh

[7:14] to understand really where where they can play in this. Um, and there's still

[7:19] discussions with HYM about the options. Um, one of the things we've been pushing

[7:24] with HYM is they're proposing 10% affordable on the on the project. Um,

[7:30] that does not put it on the SHI doesn't doesn't really help us very much at all.

[7:35] and um wearing my elderly housing committee hat. Um my take on mixing

[7:45] uh affordable a small amount of affordable units into a project like

[7:48] that is I don't think it's a I don't think it's a recipe for success because

[7:54] you're dealing with uh you would be mixing people paying 20 2500 a month for

[7:59] rent with people who are paying somewhere between 12 and $15,000 a month

[8:03] for rent. And that just creates all kinds of interesting potential

[8:08] conflicts. Um what we were thinking is if if we could take a and and HM just

[8:14] did this in Brooklyn. They they traded the affordability component for a cash

[8:20] payment which allowed Brookline to to finish an another affordable project. So

[8:26] they gave Brooklyn $6 million. um and Brooklyn approved the a project

[8:31] which was um about 50 about 60% the size of what they're proposing in Weston. So

[8:40] so there's a precedent there. Um what we would like what we were talking about

[8:44] was potentially getting money from them to build out the rest of Marian Village

[8:48] which we could do because it's been that's a by right zoning under 3A. Um,

[8:54] so this is all in in flux right now. Um, the planning board and the select board

[9:01] seem to be just staying hands off. So I think it has to

[9:05] do whatever happens here is going to be based on what HYM ends up presenting.

[9:10] Um, and it and how it gets sold. So who sells it to the town? I don't know. That

[9:16] that's a a big question. So that's kind of where we stand right now. So Jeff,

[9:21] did you have a question? Yeah, comment and question. Uh, one, I find your your

[9:25] observation about uh past decisions the town has made that have resulted in less

[9:31] than desirable um development uh developments occurring is is a is an

[9:37] important one and I hope you're offering that observation to more than just this

[9:42] August assembly. Um, I think new members of the select board

[9:47] need to hear that as do s several people involved with the JST, but that's just

[9:51] my own personal opinion. Um, but uh my question has to do I I'm intrigued HYM's

[10:00] uh cash payment to the town of Brooklyn >> here. Uh they'd be offering up if

[10:05] there's 215 total units, they'd be offering what 21 or 22 affordable units

[10:11] if it's >> um yeah 10%. That's what they're they

[10:13] they won't go higher than 10%. The planning board is pushing them to go

[10:18] to 15 um%.

[10:21] » But they won't do that. >> Yeah, they can't make it work.

[10:26] » Is the 10% a requirement under Weston zoning? Is that a

[10:32] » Okay. No, it's a it's a negotiation. >> It's a negotiation. Thank you.

[10:36] » So, my other my my real question here, Tom, is 21 units at HYM is offering if

[10:43] » No, they're really only offering 18. >> They're offering 18.

[10:47] » The 32 memory care units don't count. >> Okay, that that's important. Okay, so

[10:52] there are 18 units. That's helpful. Uh, how many units if we let's say they did

[11:00] offer a cash payment like Brooklyn Brook Brooklyn received, how many units could

[11:04] we possibly develop at Marian Village? >> 38.

[11:09] » 38. >> That's the maximum under zoning. um that

[11:14] I don't think you know if you use if you use a model of like 500k per unit um you

[11:20] know that's I don't you know that would be uh about 19,000 $19 million we would

[11:27] need to get 38 units um now I doubt that they'll go that high um but um I mean

[11:34] you could if if you if you do a linear comparison to Brooklyn you know they I

[11:42] could see them giving giving us 10 or 12 million. Um, we don't have to build full

[11:46] 38 units either at Mariam Village. Um, or we could find other ways to do it. I

[11:50] mean, there's um there's nothing stopping us or stopping some entity, I

[11:56] should say, from building that uh and using financing to to to complete the

[12:02] the buildout potentially. So, um, you do this.

[12:07] » I believe that's what they did originally with Marian Village.

[12:11] Um I think there was I think there was a mortgage there originally.

[12:16] » Yeah, there's still still a mortgage. Yeah. Okay.

[12:19] » It's not it's a small one. >> Small but

[12:22] there was a um >> Yeah. And it's the same thing we did

[12:26] with building D at Brook School. Yeah. We we it was all it was all

[12:30] » right. I just wanted to make sure I understood.

[12:33] » Yeah. Yeah. So right now HYM is talking about uh 300,000 for 15%

[12:40] of the 180 you know some units uh you know minus the memory care and that

[12:48] 300,000 is about 8.5 million or something like that but it doesn't you

[12:53] know I think Tom's probably understands what it costs to build these units and

[12:56] 300,000 wouldn't build >> well it cost 400,000 just to build

[13:03] or in you create new units at at the Brook School.

[13:07] » Uh 500, just slightly more than >> 500 now. Wow. It was

[13:12] » Yeah, we years ago, right? Okay.

[13:15] » Yeah. We ended up >> That's within an an existing building.

[13:18] » That's in an existing building. Yeah. >> I mean, there's there's pluses and

[13:22] minuses to that. You know, it's sometimes easier to build new. Um but

[13:26] but I would say 500's a reasonable number.

[13:30] » So, can I just ask for a couple points of clarification? So they're proposing

[13:35] um 10% so 21 but only 18 of those would be on the SHI but really it's a 21 in

[13:41] total because the three would be the memory care like they would still

[13:44] propose to provide memory no >> take the memory care out.

[13:49] » Yeah. >> Yeah. The memory care apparently

[13:51] according to their analysis and I think some other people is it it can't be

[13:56] counted in SHI >> but would they still provide it

[14:00] regardless of it being counted? Would they still be restricted at a certain

[14:03] income regardless of like put SHI aside, are they still proposing to offer some

[14:09] affordability? Okay, so 21 affordable >> just 21 affordable as the is that the

[14:16] Okay. >> Um it's 18 affordable on-site

[14:20] » uh and and and 50% above that offsite. So, they're trying to negotiate for

[14:26] off-site because they basically lose a ton of revenue for every, you know, it's

[14:30] like 2,700 bucks is the upper limit for uh

[14:35] » for rent, you know, for two two people in in this county and and they're going

[14:40] to charge 12 to 15,000. So, that's 10 grand loss every unit, every month,

[14:45] forever. >> They're desperate to get offsite. Go

[14:48] ahead, Lacy. Katie, may I ask um Katie, >> where would the offsite units be?

[14:55] » Well, there apparently three options. One is uh over at Boston Properties.

[15:00] » That that site uh you know, it has a 280 unit apartment building going up uh and

[15:07] uh 15% of them have been committed to be affordable. if they bought uh bought

[15:14] restrictions on another 10% which would be another 28 units over there. That's

[15:20] that's a lot. They could bring that up to 25% and be able to count all 280

[15:25] units on the SHI. So that's pretty attractive but probably too expensive

[15:30] for HYM to bite off. There's Mariam Village. There's also another seven

[15:34] acres that are not in the uh HYM proposal but belong to Regis over by the

[15:41] aqueduct and uh they could just build their own affordable units and call it

[15:46] uh part of the project and [snorts] be done with it. Um so there's there

[15:53] seem to be assembly options. Um Marian Village board is

[15:58] cautious to the extreme right now about the possibility.

[16:03] So they're not pushing forward with it, but it's a possibility.

[16:09] » I think opposition to any proposal of building

[16:17] housing near the aqueduct, but that yeah, maybe that maybe

[16:22] » probably would be. I mean, it seems there's a lot with against the existing

[16:26] proposal for HYM. Yeah, there's there's the strongest opposition comes from some

[16:31] of the butters on Welssley Street and on Colonial Way, which is on the other side

[16:34] of the woods. Um they're they're pretty um pretty vocal right now or they have

[16:42] been in the planning board meetings. Um they

[16:47] uh I mean it's like anything in Weston, you know, the the the noisy people

[16:51] influence which way we go and most people aren't paying attention. Um, I

[16:56] think in all honesty, I think, and Alan and I have talked about this, I think we

[17:02] given how few what people don't realize what's going on and and how few people

[17:06] are paying attention, the only the only thing

[17:12] that may actually work here uh to get people's attention in town is um uh is

[17:19] kind of doing the the doom and gloom approach because if if HM goes down,

[17:24] literally you could be facing many hundreds of of 40b units, clear-cut

[17:30] forest, the whole thing. Uh, and that's I think that's the and and unfortunately

[17:36] I think that's the only thing people are going to pay attention to. Um, and I

[17:41] don't think they'll understand the the the logical thing is to take a chunk of

[17:46] money from them and then use it somewhere else in a more appropriate

[17:49] place. But you know selling that idea requires uh you know resources we don't

[17:55] have that's for sure. >> So just for a point of clarification

[18:01] just because it sounds like you've really done a lot of thinking. This will

[18:05] require a zoning change. The zoning change will require a planning board

[18:10] recommendation town meeting vote. I get all that.

[18:14] The planning board's already looking at site and building plans and the zoning

[18:18] hasn't even been changed. >> Correct.

[18:21] » Yeah. Right. They're trying to uh set up the development agreement between So

[18:28] that's kind of what they're working on. >> Okay. But the vote, the town meeting

[18:32] vote would be on the zoning change. >> Yes.

[18:35] » Both. It would be both. The the town meeting would have to vote

[18:37] » right >> first on the zoning change, then on the

[18:39] development agreement. >> Got it. Yeah.

[18:41] » And we've done this we've done this before. We did this with

[18:43] » Yeah. No, I'm I'm familiar with the the process. I just wanted to So,

[18:48] » what I was trying to say is we've done we've done a a zoning change and and a

[18:53] development agreement where there was a cash transfer before with the old

[18:56] Liberty Mutual site. So, we we did that >> uh and the so the town the town has seen

[19:02] this process before >> and you guys as the trust

[19:06] will be con will be talking to the planning board. I assume

[19:10] » we are we are influencers at best. >> Got it. That's that. Okay. Okie dokie.

[19:16] » Good. That was a good point of clarification, Katie. And and I actually

[19:19] was going to ask going back to I think Tom, you had made a comment about where

[19:24] mixing the lower income creates some conflicts. And I think that's you're the

[19:29] trust is kind of at this discussion point, right, of whether or not how you

[19:32] want to make your recommendation. So, um, maybe it would be helpful to talk a

[19:36] little bit about like what are those conflicts that you perceive and why you

[19:41] would want the option of the money rather than just having them build it.

[19:46] And I think Jeeoff, you had mentioned some comments about what's the

[19:49] differential between the number of units you could get from them just building

[19:54] them and including them versus how much money it would cost you to actually and

[19:58] time it would cost you to build them yourself with the money that you're

[20:02] getting. So like what's the value proposition of either one? So I think

[20:05] that's kind of where you're at. >> The number of units, you know, they're

[20:09] proposing uh they they've said to the planning board that we will accept uh

[20:14] 10% onsite, but if you allow us to work out an off-site deal, we will fund 15%

[20:24] of our uh total offsite. So that's the difference.

[20:28] » It it's very Yeah, it's really it's that simple. value, how many units could you

[20:33] actually get, right, with money? So, if you're going unit for unit, that's where

[20:37] I think I didn't know if that's what you were talking about, Jeeoff, like how

[20:40] many >> That's exactly what I was getting to.

[20:44] Uh, but >> also I think it's it's notable that they

[20:48] they've said to the select board that, yeah, we'll do 10% on-site and we'll

[20:51] fund 15% offsite. Well, I mean, 15% off site, you're

[20:56] talking about uh 27 26 or 27 units.

[21:02] » Yep. >> And they would build them.

[21:06] » Well, they're they they're not in the they said they're not builders for

[21:10] affordable housing. they you need another uh you know site site which

[21:14] means you know if they if they did the deal with BXP for 27 units

[21:20] um which would be uh pretty much you know almost enough to get that 25% of

[21:28] that bu that that building and that the HI could count all of it. Uh

[21:33] » yeah let let me let me clarify a couple things. Um, first the if we did if they

[21:38] did if we gave the money to to Boston Properties, it would be buying down

[21:43] affordability on an existing project. They're doing a three they're doing a

[21:47] five-phase 3A project uh on the Boston Properties site. So, the idea would give

[21:52] give Boston Properties uh a chunk of money and buy down additional

[21:55] affordability. Right now, that's at a 15% I believe affordable uh for I don't

[22:02] know how many. It's like 600 total units over time, I think. Something like that.

[22:06] Um, so that would be one way to do it. The, uh, I'm not a particular fan of

[22:12] that idea because it just it's just shoving people off into into the old

[22:18] quarry on the other side of Weston and basically dumping them into Waltham. Um,

[22:24] » they're very nice. They're supposed to be very nice. So,

[22:28] » it'll be nice. It'll be nice, but it's still,

[22:29] » you know, I'm sure people who want affordable units in Westland would be

[22:33] glad to take them almost anywhere. Boston property interested in this?

[22:38] » We don't know. >> Nobody knows.

[22:40] » The uh uh the select board has designated Alot

[22:45] » as their as their contact between the select board and HYM

[22:49] » who also engineered the the 3A resoning of the Boston property site. So he's he

[22:57] knows he'll be in talks with both parties and I'm guessing he's going to

[23:01] try and work a deal. >> Yeah. You know, the other sub other

[23:04] problem other possibility is we'd probably get the most affordable units

[23:08] out of this whole deal if we just let HYM fail and let Regis put in two or

[23:17] three 40b projects. >> Yeah.

[23:20] » Which would all be 25% affordable. >> Yeah. Yeah. That and that's the that's

[23:26] the irony here. Just an outsider question. The I mean is there a big

[23:32] demand for a senior living in Weston? >> Yes.

[23:36] » I mean the I've seen a lot of you know you I'm totally the newbie. I've seen a

[23:41] lot of communities

[23:44] deal with this kind of thing coming in, but and the thought of like developing

[23:49] off-site units, but ultimately the 10% units would be kind of a bird in hand.

[23:55] And if it's a desirable project and you like the project, just something to

[23:59] think about. There's a lot of steps to getting that money to become those

[24:03] units. >> Yeah. Um and and there is something to

[24:07] be said for the bird in hand if there's a big demand for it.

[24:12] » There is a >> we've got over at Marian Village a 35

[24:16] person waiting list and we only have four or five openings a year.

[24:21] » You've got the same situation that >> Yeah. Brook school we have a uh

[24:26] » Marian Village is assisted living. >> No

[24:29] » no it's a it's a elderly affordable >> houseed. Okay. Yes. Katie, it's actually

[24:35] a really cool project with a fascinating uh history. It's worth looking into just

[24:40] memorize yourself with. >> Yeah.

[24:43] » It was set up as a nonprofit. >> Yeah, I'm familiar with it. I just don't

[24:47] know the details, but I'm going to take a peek.

[24:49] » Yeah. Brook School, which is the the other big project in town, 75 units, um

[24:56] uh section 8 as well as um market. Um and um we have anywhere from a 4 to 10

[25:07] year waiting list at any one time. For the affordable um the for the market

[25:12] units, it's a little fuzzier because we we have u you know probably 50 people on

[25:17] that list but um but they're not always ready. You people get on the list

[25:21] thinking that they're going to move in two or three years or four years. So

[25:24] they're not always ready when the when a unit comes up. So it's a more dynamic

[25:29] situation. But but um we don't have any vacancies. Never have any vacancies

[25:34] longer than 2 months.

[25:38] And the uh what is the council on aging? What was the the council on aging

[25:44] estimated we're short 100 someund some units I think um for elderly um

[25:53] housing. And that's just elderly affordable, not gen not general

[25:56] affordable. Um, and the and the over 60 cohort in town is very is a very large

[26:03] number, but people can't afford to stay here because [clears throat] there's

[26:06] nowhere to go >> or people have nowhere to u transition

[26:10] down to. I mean, you know, there's not much in the way of

[26:16] » smaller town houses or, you know, smaller like smaller residences for

[26:21] people here. So, >> so they moved I mean there's more

[26:24] options in surrounding towns. So even people could afford it just move across

[26:28] the you know >> across the border into Wayland or you

[26:32] know Waltham Welssley whatever because there's not you know

[26:40] and some people think there's there's a whole contingent in town or it's like

[26:44] that's great that's the way it should be. So,

[26:48] » yep. There's a big contingent like that.

[26:53] Same thing for the people who work here. They Oh, Framingham's a good place. Send

[26:57] them over there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately, there's a

[27:02] there's a lot of that. Yeah. >> So, it's kind of a funny question. Do we

[27:08] work actively work to support getting this over the line as a group? because

[27:14] our interest is affordable housing and if you if you added it up um having it

[27:21] fail might produce more affordable housing the HYM project letting go of

[27:26] 40B. >> Yeah, that's that's a really interesting

[27:30] perspective. The only thing I'll say is, you know, given the long-term track

[27:34] record of the Brooks School and Marian Village,

[27:38] I, you know, there's value in having those entities uh develop the housing

[27:45] over the long run than having it done by an outside developer and managed by

[27:50] them. >> I agree. I mean, I'm treasurer over at

[27:53] Marian Village and it's and it and really active over there. I'm going to

[27:58] go over there after this meeting. I have a coffee over there every Wednesday

[28:01] morning and the uh the um it's a great place and they've got you know five

[28:08] acres zone for multif family housing so they could build 38 more you know

[28:14] » it's like I mean it's it's it would be a um

[28:19] uh well not frictionless but a lot less

[28:23] friction in terms of the development path shall we say

[28:27] » it it would it would fewer neighbor resistance over there because they're

[28:32] they're separated by big buffers or in some directions they're no neighbors at

[28:37] all. It's >> you're involved with them. I mean, are

[28:42] they interested in expanding? >> Well, they haven't been thinking about

[28:46] uh expanding uh previously and they have a cautious board leadership

[28:52] um who have lots of questions. You know, there's kind of two ways to look at a

[28:57] situation like that. One is, boy, that would be great if we could work this

[29:01] out. Let's figure out whether we can. And the other one is, geez, I don't

[29:05] know. This could go wrong or that could go wrong. We don't know anything about

[29:08] that. And it's kind of sitting and waiting for something to land in your

[29:12] lap. And that's kind of where they're at right now, I'm afraid.

[29:16] » The board is kind of split about that. We haven't really had a detailed

[29:20] discussion about it. >> The board of selectman or the planning

[29:23] board? >> The the board at Mary Village.

[29:26] » Got it. >> Village. the we could also I mean

[29:32] if there was a monetary component settlement of this uh it could also be

[29:39] left in a more open situation where we could apply it as a housing trust into

[29:44] small multiple smaller developments potentially or or on other things just

[29:50] so Katie and Kristen as you well for everybody's knowledge we are Um

[29:58] looking it's looking like right now we are at best

[30:04] uh one and 3/4 or two years away from safe

[30:09] harbor uh given where things all the stand on all the developments uh in

[30:15] town. So there are there's a huge potential for other 40bs

[30:21] to come in and drop a bomb on Weston. Um, and there are ways to there might be

[30:27] ways to leverage this money into safe harbor uh, safe harbor option for the

[30:33] town, but uh, none of that stuff is that stuff doesn't seem to be interesting to

[30:39] the select board or to the planning board. So, uh, it's, you know, so we're

[30:44] in a weird place here where the people who are in charge of this stuff um,

[30:49] » really don't want to deal with it. I I hope I don't sound like I'm making

[30:54] trouble, but I mean, but it is one of you mentioned that your goal is to

[30:58] create affordable housing. Um, not necessarily to get to safe

[31:03] harbor, even though that may be another planning objective for the town. So,

[31:08] » yeah, >> you know, that should be guiding.

[31:11] » I mean, you guys do you I'm the newbie here. I'm just saying it's good to kind

[31:16] of keep your eye on the the prize. Oh, we we this is this is a topic that's

[31:21] come up before in the sense that with respect to on the elderly housing

[31:25] committee where you know we've we've been pressured to do things by the town

[31:31] to do safe harbor but that's not our mission. Our mission is elderly housing

[31:35] and you know we've had to push back on that a few times.

[31:37] » Yeah. >> So uh you know because it sometimes that

[31:42] goal is in alignment with what we want to do but not always.

[31:46] So, I I took a look at at at an example over at Martha's Vineyard about the how

[31:51] they approach uh affordable housing because of course they have a a big

[31:56] workforce problem. Uh nobody's going to take the ferry to come to work. You

[32:00] either have to live on the island or you don't work. Nobody works there. So, um,

[32:05] they have a nonprofit community development corp that works

[32:10] with the trust and and that's there's only two nonprofits devoted to housing

[32:15] in town that have a broad charter to do that, but they're not really very

[32:21] active. One is Martha's V or one is Miriam Village which the charter says

[32:26] it's it's to develop moderate and lowincome housing not dedicated to any

[32:33] particular site or even any particular population. Somehow it landed on elderly

[32:39] housing at that site um early in in the 70s and it sort of stuck with it but it

[32:45] charter is broader. The other is WAFI, which is a western affordable housing uh

[32:50] foundation. Um but neither one is really very aggressive or active in doing that.

[32:56] And and if you're going to go since there's almost no land except for three

[33:01] church owned properties, Regis, the seminary, and Campion Center in town to

[33:08] develop. Uh you've got to go and talk to existing land land owners about the

[33:14] possibility. So, we we need a nonprofit entity that could offer tax advantages

[33:20] to people to do that. Now, when when Tom is saying we've got 18 months, two years

[33:27] of of safe harbor exposure, that probably is telling those three big land

[33:34] owners that do something now because you won't have a chance to to do it later.

[33:39] You'll never get zoning changes. your only option really is some sort of 40B

[33:44] project to make use of that excess land. >> Also, Alan, just to interrupt briefly,

[33:48] the um the not in God's backyard is supposed to pass today in the at the

[33:53] state legislature. That's up for vote today and it's expected to pass, which

[33:58] will >> take the churches out of the equation,

[34:02] » out of the zoning equation, I should say.

[34:04] » I mean, they do they could do what by right. Is that what it says?

[34:07] » That'll free them up. >> Yeah. So there you go.

[34:11] » There's another congregation that owns some land too, I believe. So that, you

[34:15] know, um could be freed up in that equ, you know, scenario as well. But that's

[34:20] just parathetically. >> Yeah.

[34:23] » And which is that yours?

[34:27] You own some land. >> Yeah.

[34:33] Well, I don't know. What do we do? I guess we just keep track of it because

[34:37] we haven't really decided what we want to do here. I think we I think we need

[34:41] to know more before we can make any kind of vote or recommendation to the town.

[34:46] Um I think so I think there's going to be a lot of stuff that happens over the

[34:51] next month or so to prepare it. The reality is that HYM and Regis would like

[34:57] to see this come to fall town meeting. That's is that beginning of November,

[35:01] Alan? I can't remember. >> November 23rd. Yeah. Um, so that's um

[35:08] » not too far away. >> That's not that far away, but but given

[35:11] the fact that everybody's gone, um, nothing's really going to happen in

[35:15] terms from a public standpoint until Labor Day. So, we have a we have a month

[35:20] or so to to get stuff together and understand things. So, I would think

[35:25] that we might know enough by next board meeting to offer um a letter of

[35:32] recommendation, but I don't think we're quite there yet.

[35:34] » Just quick point of clarification. So, the zoning change and the development

[35:40] agreement would potentially come before town meeting. Is the planning board

[35:45] crafting the development agreement or ultimately that has to be done by the

[35:48] selectman? >> That would be the planning board is

[35:51] basically kicked that to the select board. Got it.

[35:58] » You know, the the planning board basically there there's there's a lot of

[36:02] conflict on the planning board about affordable housing and so they're

[36:07] they're they're just they're kind of stalled.

[36:19] Anyway, that's that's kind of where we are in this. So, I propose we just wait

[36:22] until next month and have a further update on this.

[36:27] » Yeah, I was just reading through the uh the Yimi Act and Whoa, that's a big

[36:32] change. >> Yeah,

[36:34] » starter homes, uh, religious organizations

[36:38] by right. >> Yeah, the

[36:41] » it's it's complicated because probably 80% of religious properties are are

[36:46] pretty small. There's just like a church or churchyard, but there's some large

[36:49] ones out there. >> There's going to be a lot of condo

[36:52] redevelopments in the coming months, I predict.

[36:56] » Yeah. >> So,

[36:58] » yeah. And actually, what's also true is that

[37:02] that churches do own other properties. You know, they they're often sometimes

[37:06] gifted properties and other things. So, there's it'd be interesting to see how

[37:10] that plays out. I'm not an expert on that at all.

[37:17] Anyway, um that's where that is. Um I think we should move on to the next

[37:22] piece. Um which is the Warrenav rent increase.

[37:28] Um this is um

[37:34] » do we have I guess I could Kristen you you are you the you're the

[37:39] you own the meeting, right? >> I can I'm happy to screen share. Would

[37:42] that be helpful? >> Yeah. Could you screen share that that

[37:45] memo? >> Sure.

[37:49] » So, do you see the Let me make sure you see the agenda first.

[37:52] » Do you see the agenda? >> Sure.

[37:55] » Yeah. Is it the It's It's >> okay. It's great.

[37:58] » A lot. Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you you're I have two screens going, so

[38:03] » wanted to make sure we had the right one first. Okay. So, here's um

[38:08] » Yeah. >> a draft. Um, this is what Christine

[38:10] prepared for I think the trust um to review at their last meeting, but I'm

[38:15] not sure if you were ready to vote at that point. But

[38:18] » we we weren't, but but I mean just a quick this is

[38:24] this is basically um

[38:30] » this is this voting on this or submitting this change is really just

[38:35] creating a framework because we don't have None of this is going to nothing's

[38:40] going to change right now because we don't have any new uh renters coming in.

[38:45] But this is what we would be charging for new tenants if they did come in.

[38:50] Um and and we just have to we have to make sure that we're approved to do this

[38:55] in the case in that in case that situation comes up. So it's not like

[38:59] we're going to be changing anybody's rent uh in the near term. um which is

[39:05] you know there's a there's an argument we can make about that we do need to do

[39:10] rent increases but that's separate from what this letter is

[39:15] » start joking actual

[39:18] » does that make sense to people >> just uh with Warren AB I believe at

[39:22] least one of the tenants over there is a tenant at will does not have a lease

[39:26] correct yes >> so that would definitely pertain to that

[39:32] person when would this pertain to them?

[39:36] » Um, they're on that special agreement, I believe. So, um,

[39:42] I don't know where we are on that. I think that we should be approaching the

[39:46] end of that that um that repayment agreement, I believe. I'd

[39:52] have to check. >> Yeah.

[39:54] » Yeah. Moette's on on top of that. We met Jeff and I and Christine met with her

[39:59] before um before Christine's departure and so yeah she's that's being handled

[40:05] um in that separate agreement. >> Yeah. Yeah. So I think we would we would

[40:09] have to address that that we got a number of months left on that. So we

[40:12] have to when we get closer I think we would think about that but but right now

[40:17] I don't think there's I'm not aware of any sense of anybody

[40:22] moving or or leaving it anytime soon. So, but again, you guys are you and

[40:28] Munette are probably more on top of that than I am.

[40:31] » How many units is this? >> Seven.

[40:35] » Seven. >> And and this is just their annual rent

[40:39] increase prompted by HUD. >> Yes.

[40:42] » Exchanges. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. This this is more a

[40:45] formality than anything else? >> No, I got it. This is great.

[40:49] » Right. So, we just have to vote on this so that we can send it off.

[40:56] So, so that being said, do I have a motion?

[40:59] » So moved. >> Do I have a second?

[41:03] » Second. >> Okay. All in favor?

[41:06] » I >> I Okay, good. Done.

[41:12] » Um,

[41:15] [clears throat] all right. Moving on. Um, does anybody have we had any update

[41:20] on the architectural plans? I'm not sure where that was.

[41:26] I'm not sure who's handling that anymore.

[41:29] » The um you mean the um the final plans? What do you mean the architectural

[41:33] plans? The >> Kristen, you can you can unshare now.

[41:35] Kristen, >> the as bills.

[41:37] » The asbuilt. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, Moya is working on that. I

[41:42] think there was already an invoice paid, but that's being handled. So, this is

[41:46] one of the items, Jeeoff, that we were discussing um as well. And so, that's

[41:51] being worked through. I think when Moyette came back from vacation, um

[41:55] there was a a payment or something that needed to go through. So, she's aware of

[42:00] it. She's working on that. Um they should have that soon. And I think we

[42:03] discussed, you know, part of that would be the maintenance and operation plan.

[42:07] So, that should be on the asbuilts as well. So,

[42:09] » all right. We'll check on given that it's been five years since it was due,

[42:13] we we can wait another month or two.

[42:18] » Um All right. Uministrative matters. Uh we have our five members right now, but

[42:24] we are at minimum. Um and the person I was hoping there would be a new member

[42:31] um who had said she would be at the meeting today is not at the meeting

[42:34] today. So I'm not really sure what happened there. Um I hope that she

[42:40] didn't go to town hall looking for us physically. Um, so I'm I have to follow

[42:46] up with her again to see what's going >> I didn't see her when I was there at

[42:50] 8:30. >> Oh. Oh, you went to you went there.

[42:54] [laughter] >> I'm sorry. I just have to interject with

[42:57] a quick question. The status update on the asbuilt plans. You said that is

[43:03] on hold. Is it? >> No.

[43:06] So, so just to update you quickly, Katie, um the Warren Av project was

[43:11] completed 10 years ago.

[43:15] » Um and part of that uh there are annual landscape and and

[43:22] conservation maintenance elements to that there. Um

[43:26] » for it to be the permit was never closed out properly because the asbuilts

[43:30] weren't ever filed by got it. Got it. Builder and so forth. So there was a lot

[43:34] of loose ends which were um left there. It it was a nightmare project.

[43:40] » Um and the project went over budget dramatically. The builder um screwed up

[43:48] massively. It was just one of those um those things that happened and um it was

[43:53] before any of our times um pretty much. Uh but it that

[44:01] there was a lot of baggage left and that this is the last piece of it I hope that

[44:06] we're trying to clean up. >> But where you're at now is someone is

[44:10] reviewing them. Is that what you said Kristen?

[44:12] » So there is a property manager. >> Got it.

[44:15] » That and this is that kind of complicated piece where like the trust

[44:19] has the agreement with the elderly housing committee for Moette to oversee

[44:23] for them to oversee but they hire Moette. Moyets's a town employee, so

[44:26] she's overseeing this process. >> Got it.

[44:29] » And making sure and the trust is just kind of making sure that this is

[44:32] happening. >> Does that summarize it a little bit,

[44:36] Tom? I hope. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're just We had to go back

[44:39] to the original architects and so forth and surveyors to get stuff cleaned up.

[44:45] And >> so it's in progress.

[44:46] » Yeah, it's in progress. Okay. >> Yeah.

[44:50] » It's not it's not like a burning issue, but

[44:53] » I got it. Sorry about that.

[44:55] » It's just one of those things we want to clean up.

[44:59] » Um, okay. So, what else? No applicants. So, um, uh, we need to reappoint,

[45:06] um, uh, Allan and I to different things. Um,

[45:12] we have, this is a vote for So, we need to reappoint Allen to to to the CBC. I

[45:17] need a vote on that. >> So, moved.

[45:21] » Second. >> Second.

[45:23] All in favor? >> I

[45:26] » I I Okay, done. Then we have to reappoint Allan to the housing

[45:30] production plan steering committee, >> which I'm not sure he's even has even

[45:35] met this year. >> Oh, yeah. They've been meeting right

[45:38] along. >> Housing production. This is the steering

[45:42] committee, not is this? >> This is the steering committee, not the

[45:45] production. >> Right. The the steering committee has

[45:48] not met. >> Yeah. So anyway, we need another vote

[45:50] for to get to reappoint Allen to that. So do I have a a motion?

[45:55] » I move. >> Second.

[45:58] » Okay. All in favor? >> I I.

[46:01] » And then lastly, Alan and I need to be reappointed to the Riverside Housing

[46:06] Working Group. So Jeff, could you give me a motion? I

[46:10] will make a motion to uh renew Allen and Tom's uh membership or participation on

[46:17] the Riverside Housing Working Group. >> Okay.

[46:19] » Second. >> All in favor?

[46:21] » I >> I

[46:22] » Okay, done. >> And now Tom, just just for um

[46:26] understanding what happens next, will you send an email confirming those um

[46:32] nom those um votes of appointments to those respective boards?

[46:37] » Yeah, I'll send it. Okay. I'll send it to Leon. I think it I think it has to go

[46:40] to Leon. >> Okay.

[46:42] » But I'll take care of that.

[46:47] » Thank you. >> Um and then we have

[46:54] um I'm not completely sure what this is, but we need a housing trust member to

[46:58] collaborate with the council on aging for the housing fair in the fall.

[47:03] So, this one, Christine mentioned to me that the um Council on Aging was looking

[47:07] to host um a housing fair uh or that anyway that

[47:14] that there was one in discussion um and that there was some idea about centering

[47:20] it around edus similar to what the town of Conquered had done. Um, and so if

[47:26] that's a desire of the trust to to work with the COA

[47:30] that there probably should be a point person on that

[47:33] » conversation, I'm on the board at the COA, too. So, sitting down with the

[47:38] director over there, we said, "What do we do about housing in town for, you

[47:42] know, that that that impact?" Because they had just had a uh a session for

[47:47] people about how to stay in their house. basically the resources at at at the

[47:53] available for people to age in place. Um, and and it seemed like uh ADU was

[47:59] another option that wasn't explored. And so she said, "Well, why don't we do a uh

[48:05] a housing fair?" And I said, "I thought the trust might want to get involved and

[48:09] support that." So, here we are.

[48:15] So, she's looking for a date in October. Um, probably in the community center.

[48:22] Looking for a date. Probably a Thursday afternoon, 4 to 4 to 6, something like

[48:27] that. So, it it could be accessible to the COA kind of population as well as uh

[48:34] younger people if they took a little time off of work, whatever.

[48:39] I I mean I I think I see no reason not to collaborate or support this. Um would

[48:47] it make sense for you just to do that, Alan? I know I don't want to throw

[48:49] another thing on your plate. Um >> no, I'm glad to over there I'm over

[48:54] there all the time anyhow. So >> yeah, because I'm I'm feeling um I'm I'm

[48:59] maxed out right now with other commitments. Um, and uh, so if you could

[49:04] just I mean that's since you're already there might make the easy that might be

[49:07] the easiest thing to do. I mean we don't have to make this very formal

[49:10] particularly. >> So we can say Allan is volunteering to

[49:14] collaborate with the COA for the housing fair in the fall.

[49:17] » Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks.

[49:19] » Okay. And we'd be happy to to participate. I would think I'd certainly

[49:23] be happy to participate. Yeah, I might be I might

[49:27] » I guess we need a real proposal to vote on, but so there's just an idea so far.

[49:32] » Well, you know, I could it's something from a technical standpoint.

[49:38] » Um Alan, you could think about asking me to participate from an architectural

[49:44] perspective too terms >> that' be great. Yeah. I also think if

[49:47] there's a big vote leading at the town meeting in November, you know, being

[49:51] making, you know, having a visible presence at an,

[49:55] » you know, affordable housing or a housing program in October at the

[50:00] Council on Aging is a has all sorts of synergies.

[50:03] » Yeah, true.

[50:07] » Okay, good.

[50:10] » Thank you. So, Tom, Jeff, you probably know a lot more about this Yiggby uh uh

[50:15] bill. I think you've been following it for a while.

[50:17] » I have been following it. I don't know. I mean, I've been I don't know what uh

[50:23] which version of the bill made it through, but I'll be I'm going to look

[50:26] at it later today or tomorrow. So, >> yeah. Yeah. I'm pretty sure

[50:32] » there was in the news report said this go vote was scheduled for today.

[50:39] So, >> but it sound like that that's a big

[50:42] change that the town should probably be proactive about helping figure out

[50:47] » what we what should do because that transit or oriented housing the uh the

[50:51] only transit location is uh about 100 ft from my house. So, uh the the that would

[50:59] be one thing. Uh the other is uh church property and then um uh small houses

[51:07] allowable on on lots. So three three houses per per lot uh mandated. I guess

[51:16] you have to get >> three houses per lot. Can you imagine?

[51:18] Oh my goodness. >> [laughter]

[51:23] [gasps] >> Well, it's going to be a this is going

[51:26] to create a firestorm of those who were uh against

[51:30] » instead of moving to Somerville, I'll just wait for Somerville to come here.

[51:34] » Well, there you go. >> Hey, I live in Somerville. [laughter]

[51:37] » Hey, it's not Someville. >> I'm not knocking it. Actually, I'm I

[51:41] meant that in a very complimentary way, but that's all right. very happily. Uh

[51:46] » I >> I very happily downsized here and it's

[51:49] fantastic. >> I I lived in Somerville for two years. I

[51:53] that's my wife and I were just talking about that.

[51:55] » I walk everywhere. I love it. It's a whole thing.

[51:58] » I'm not I wasn't being disparaging. >> No, I'm teasing. I'm teasing.

[52:03] » My our our conversation at home is that Somerville's gotten too expensive to

[52:08] downsize to. >> It's very expensive.

[52:11] [laughter] >> Very. [gasps] Yeah. Arlington, too.

[52:15] » Yeah. But I'll tell you, when you just walk over to your doctor or walk over to

[52:20] the supermarket, you're like, "Yes, [laughter]

[52:24] » it's fantastic." >> All right. So, we need to we need to

[52:27] wrap this up, but um next meeting would be

[52:31] technically the right now technically the 5th uh in the morning. We have to I

[52:37] mean that's I'll we'll do that tentatively because we got to sort out

[52:41] um we've got some issues about timing and and Anapom our select board member

[52:46] has a diff has difficulty in the for morning meetings um but uh other people

[52:52] have difficulty for evening meetings so we have to sort that out um but but for

[52:57] for the time being I would propose we we we tenatively uh schedule our next

[53:02] meeting for August 5th >> and and Tom one of the um I had sent

[53:06] this kind of later um in the afternoon yesterday, but um [clears throat]

[53:12] Katie's Katie's schedule could and Katie, you can speak for yourself, but

[53:16] um could um allow for an evening meeting if it's virtual. So, totally.

[53:21] » Um yeah. So, so that's something I I wanted to make sure that you were aware

[53:25] of that it wouldn't be able to be hybrid, but um but virtual an evening

[53:29] meeting, you know, I'd like to attend with Katie for the next meeting, which I

[53:33] can't do um in the evening. Um, so for August, it would have to still be the

[53:38] morning, but um, if Katie is feeling comfortable after that to kind of fly on

[53:42] her own, um, the trust could consider virtual meetings at 7 o'clock. At

[53:48] » I have I don't have young children anymore. I'm completely flexible about

[53:54] when you'd want to have the meeting. Yeah, let's let's let's let's

[53:58] tentatively say keep it 8:30 for August 5th, but I I need to talk to Anapom and

[54:04] I have to u pursue this other uh potential member who I think is

[54:11] uh this is like the third meeting now that she didn't come to as an

[54:14] introduction. So I suspect that this is not going to happen, frankly. But um we

[54:20] need some other members and uh um haven't really I've beaten shaken the

[54:28] trees a little bit but no one's fallen out.

[54:32] So anybody else has any ideas that would be great.

[54:36] » I can talk to you offline. I I have had um couple of conversations but that was

[54:44] before my sbatical with folks so I can reinvigorate those.

[54:49] » That would be great. Just one um one thought. If the Mass Wins Act does

[54:57] pass, I I'm not sure it's being voted on today, but um you know, that would be

[55:02] something you might want to there might be a little more than you want to handle

[55:06] for the housing fair, but there will be a lot of significant stuff in there

[55:11] » that someone could sort of summarize. It's it's pretty meaty.

[55:15] » Yeah, that's I haven't se I haven't seen a summary of it. I know and I know that

[55:19] it was all being it was all pretty fluid at the last minute still. So,

[55:23] » the chapel website tends to have very good summaries u that you can just look

[55:28] at and it keeps it pretty simple. >> Let's see what passes.

[55:32] » Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And when >> given our legislation,

[55:37] » it's in committee now, right? Is it in the um

[55:40] » No, I think it Well, I thought it was going for for a full vote.

[55:44] » Full vote. Okay, let's all right. That's good. All right.

[55:49] » So, I don't know. I mean, I'm just not I mean, that's just one more thing for me

[55:54] to track and I don't track it. So, >> there there was two more agenda items on

[55:59] here quickly that I know nothing about >> that lots are open and habitat.

[56:05] » Yes. So, Habitat, very quick updates. Habitat's under construction. Anybody

[56:09] who's driven along Route 20 has can see that on the corner of Welssley and Route

[56:13] 20. Uh site clearing is underway. Uh site prep is underway. Uh foundation

[56:20] work should be starting in September. Um the Mera project, Mil Creek, uh is well

[56:28] into construction. They are they are both of those projects are initiating

[56:33] their affordable lotteryies. Um don't know too much about it. I've seen I've

[56:37] seen advertisements for it, but um but those are underway.

[56:42] Um, and they will be I believe the lotteryies are scheduled for like

[56:48] September or October in both cases. Uh, Habitat will take longer because that's

[56:53] a purchase, not a rental. But um and then um

[56:58] » is there a way for us to put up on our our committee website the notices of

[57:04] these kinds of uh regional um >> yeah I don't see

[57:09] » lotteryies and availability >> whoever whoever manages the website

[57:12] could should be able to add that I think is that um that's town hall somewhere

[57:16] » is that Anthony or I don't know who does that

[57:19] » I think it's Stephan Stephen >> I have to leave

[57:23] » bye Buzzy >> bye

[57:26] Bye. Nice to meet you.

[57:29] » Thank you very much. >> You're quite welcome.

[57:32] » Um yeah, we could we we should look into that. I think that's a good idea, Alan.

[57:36] Um not that anybody ever goes to our website, but what the heck? [laughter]

[57:40] Um last item is that I wanted to mention two other things. Um

[57:46] the uh Dington project is moving towards uh permit submission. that's been kind

[57:54] of tied up. Um the Brook School, two new units at Brook School are uh

[58:02] in permitting. Not quite there yet. There's been some issues with fire

[58:06] safety. And then lastly, the state uh slapped down Weston's appeal for the

[58:14] Route 30 project. And to my knowledge, there's been no movement to file a final

[58:21] appeal with the SJC. So that looks like that will be proceeding.

[58:29] So that will be up. >> It's the that project is famous. I was

[58:35] at a a meeting of uh organized by by chapa of trust people and people from

[58:43] all over the state from the west and people said, "Oh, you're from Weston.

[58:47] How's the Whopper going?" >> Yeah. Yeah. The western Whopper was

[58:51] somehow famous everywhere. >> The Whopper is famous.

[58:54] » The Whopper is about to be served.

[59:00] » Yep. >> What's the What's the name of the

[59:02] project? The actual name. >> Who's the developer? Do you know any?

[59:07] » Oh god. Um, >> it's okay. I'll look it up. It's the

[59:10] Route 30 project. >> Yeah. I can't remember the name. I mean,

[59:14] Jonathan Buckman was the local developer, but he's partnered with um

[59:18] Outfit out of Houston to do it. >> Okay.

[59:21] » Um big national firm. Um >> Burger King.

[59:26] » Just kidding. >> But yeah, I don't know if they have a

[59:28] real name for it yet or not. Um so, uh yeah, like the the Modair I think

[59:35] they're calling themselves Mil Creek. >> Yeah,

[59:37] » Mil Creek. >> Just another bland name. So, just to

[59:41] affirm, we're we're meeting on August 5th most likely in the morning on Zoom.

[59:46] » Yeah. Yeah. Just like this. >> Okay.

[59:50] » All right. >> All right.

[59:51] » So, that's pretty much it. >> Thank you.

[59:55] » You're welcome. >> All right.

[59:57] » Thank you. >> All right. We'll be talking.

[59:59] » All right. Bye. Take care. Okay. Have a good day. Thank you.

[1:00:02] » Okay. Biking.

Weston Affordable Housing Trust 7/8/2026

Agenda

Transcript