As the Affordable Housing Trust discussed the proposed elimination of the Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw during its April 11 public meeting, member Norm Hills explained that many proposed changes in town bylaws intended to go on the warrant for the May 8 Annual Town Meeting never got past the Planning Board.
“We removed them all from the warrant so it should be a short meeting, I think, this year,” said Hills. “It went onto discussion of the Inclusionary Bylaw. Those changes are not going to Town Meeting either, so it’s at least until Fall Town Meeting to hash this out. Sherman (Briggs) wanted it at the Town Meeting.”
Affordable Housing Trust member Nancy McFadden noted that Planning Board member Andrew Daniel repeatedly suggested a citizens’ petition should allow the proposed elimination of the Inclusionary Bylaw to go to Town Meeting.
Hills said there was a schedule to keep but that, “no one seemed inclined to force it on (the warrant) either.”
Affordable Housing Trust Chairperson Terri Santos stressed that attempts will continue to be made to eliminate the bylaw.
“So we need to maybe come up with a strategy, maybe think of ways to work with (bylaw opponents Briggs, Daniel and Jon Henry),” said Santos. “There are different types of inclusionary housing bylaws that incorporate higher median incomes like what they do on Nantucket and the Vineyard. Over 80 percent area income, it doesn’t go on your (Subsidized Housing Inventory.)”
Santos explained that anything on a town’s SHI has to be below 80% of the area’s median income. Towns such as Nantucket and on Martha’s Vineyard are incorporating higher income limits for working people who live on those islands.
Hills said the proposed Village Style Smart Growth District would accomplish some of those goals.
“The big problem is this town has never done anything, it’s always done to us,” said Hills. “The town owns a lot of land but it’s all ‘open space.’ You can’t do anything to it.”
Member Susan Miller asked Hills if, during the Planning Board’s debate over the Inclusionary Housing Bylaw, if he saw any room for compromise.
“Basically, they said, ‘Ten percent, we don’t want to do anything,’ but the fact is it’s only conditional,” said Hills. “Until (Wareham Road 40B developer Ken Steen) pulls a building permit – and he’s got a year to do that – if he doesn’t do it within a year, all those things fall off. They don’t count anymore. … They think we’re home safe and we’re not. I don’t see any movement on his part to do anything down there.”
Santos is seeking ideas on how to approach this issue, and Hills suggested Marion needs to consult with experts. Santos suggested that the Massachusetts Housing Partnership would be willing to help.
The membership briefly discussed Briggs’ former proposal for 28 townhouses off Spring Street, noting that there is heavy equipment at the site.
Santos sent the membership the link to the Community Preservation Committee’s guidebook. “We’re not utilizing our housing funds,” she said, suggesting Marion learn what surrounding towns are doing to address the state affordable-housing threshold.
Santos said she also wants to look at the Accessory Dwelling Bylaw. As of now in Marion, such an apartment must be occupied by a family member. If not, the matter has to go through the whole subsidized-housing process, she said.
“We’ve got to be proactive,” said Santos, looking for ideas on how to use CPC funding. “It’s got to be a deed-restricted property.”
Hills said the Affordable Housing Trust would need to establish criteria for CPC-funding eligibility.
Miller said many residents complain about water bills; Hills said the matter will grow worse. Miller agreed to conduct some research.
At the suggestion of Minhtram Tran, the Affordable Housing Trust is considering a tour of affordable-housing developments in May.
As Hills explained, the 2022 Housing Production Plan was not addressed during a particularly lengthy Planning Board meeting. (The Planning Board did finally vote to approve it on Tuesday night, and the Select Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday night.)
The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Affordable Housing Trust
By Mick Colageo