Amesbury Housing Trust

By City Clerk at 9:43 am, Aug 11, 2022 AMESBURY CITY HALL 62 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Amesbury Housing Trust MEETING MINUTES – NOT FOR APPROVAL July 13, 2022 @4:30pm City Hall Auditorium NO QUORUM Members present: Margaret Hoffman, Drew LeFleur, Kathy Troiano Members absent: Mayor Kassandra Gove, Nancy Frick, Kerry Hamel-Pope, Steve Stanganelli Staff: Angela Cleveland 1. Margaret Hoffman called the meeting to order at 4:35pm 2. Minutes from June 15, 2022 and June 28, 2022 – no quorum present so no votes could be taken. 3. Communications • Housing Trust Account update – the Treasurer is on vacation, but based on what we know of the previous balance and what was paid to the housing consultant $2,100 as of $142,064.94. • SHI Update – Carriage Lofts Unit 39 Millyard, Unit 14-306, closed on 7/11/2022. 4. Existing Business • Amesbury Rental Assistance Program Launch – question about whether this could be used to help someone find an apartment? What documentation would they need since the utilities are not in their name? • Prioritization Exercise – Drew LeFleur reviewed the prioritization exercise. 5. New Business • Council Referral: 2022-087: An Order to authorize the Mayor to surplus, procure a development proposal, and sell properties 58 Cynthia Road and 63 Cynthia Lane Disposition. Margaret explained that this was referred to the Housing Trust by the Council. Brad Matthews, 14 Pamela Lane, spoke first. They understand that this will most likely move forward, so they are asking that we help mitigate the potential impacts of development. Angela Cleveland clarified that there is no proposed development at this time. This order will authorize the Mayor to sell the property. Judith Sullivan, 42 Pamela Lane, spoke second. She explained that a group came to the City Council meeting in June for the first reading. There are four of them that are concerned about this proposal. They were encouraged to attend all of the five committees/subcommittees that this Order was referred to. Some of the negative issues that they are concerned about: are there any other City owned properties zoned for residential that are more appropriate. There are roughly 200 taxpayers that a housing development will affect. Some people will look right down on the construction site. At what point do we determine whether they are buildable lots or appropriate for residential development? The City has addressed  some water management issues – how is that being addressed/or will be addressed. Mr. Matthews claims that the greenspace is part of the water mitigation system. Ms. Sullivan also said she feels this will contribute to the stormwater runoff. • Process for Creating Affordable Units – Review Draft. Members did not have a chance to review and wanted to wait until the next meeting when others are present. 6. Next Meeting Date – August 10th – Drew asked if we can put out a poll to see if this date and time still works for people. Margaret asked Angela to look into it.