Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership

Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership Meeting minutes 1/26/2023 In attendance: Janna Tetreault (in-person), Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid (remote), Kate Banigan- White (remote) Guests: Jamie Webb, City of Easthampton; Rachel Roberts, Amy Zuckerman Meeting was called to order at 6:14 p.m. Meeting was hybrid. A. Two Amendments to the Agenda:  Approval of Meeting Minutes December 2022 – tabled until next time. Janna did not send meeting notes in advance.  Janna made a note that there was an error on the agenda and the Sierra Vista Commons developers are not in attendance and the agenda should have said “Continued Discussion of Tasty Top” project. B. Introductions of Partnership members for guests C. Continued Discussion of Sierra Vista Commons (Tasty Top Development LLC)  Next Planning Board meeting is February 7 – the meeting was continued from January meeting because the developer was not ready  Members should be prepared to speak at the next meeting if they want to. There were about 100 people in person at the continued hearing and about 30 people online.  So far, the focus has been focused on traffic and less about affordable housing.  Janna plans to speak. We should try to stagger our comments to try to interrupt the flow of negative comments.  The project is still before the Conservation Commission  Kiam offered to help members with their public comments if anyone needs it  Kate is still feeling ambivalent about the project D. Continued Recruitment Discussion Janna circulated a draft of a new description of the Partnership for the City website: The mission of the Easthampton Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership is to support fair and long-term, quality affordable housing in the City of Easthampton. An advisory committee appointed by City Council, the Partnership meets monthly. Members also often attend other City meetings and hearings to support affordable housing. The Partnership works with local officials, non-profit and for-profit developers, and city residents to achieve its affordable housing goals. Some recent activities include: updating the 2021 Housing Production Plan, advocacy and support for the School Reuse Request For Proposals for affordable housing, and applying for technical support to launch the Easthampton Housing Coalition. The Partnership has identified recruitment as a goal for 2023 and we have struggled in the past to explain what the Partnership does and how we are different from the Housing Coalition. Comments from Members on draft language:  Add Rental Assistance as an activity  Include role as a resource for the community, answering questions and making referrals  Add in future goals – what do we want to work on next? (see “other priorities for 2023” below)  Janna will provide an updated draft for the next meeting Other Priorities for 2023 –  Look at the Housing Production Plan for February meeting – identify additional priorities  Look at the Provincetown Housing Playbook that Jamie circulated: Microsoft Word - Provincetown Housing Playbook oct16.docx (provincetown-ma.gov) E. Housing Coalition Updates - Kiam The Housing Coalition is meeting again on January 31 at 6pm. The focus of the meeting will be on preparing for the Planning Board for Sierra Vista Commons. The Coalition is also working on a documentary on the need for affordable housing. F. Advocacy Updates – things to watch out for:  Amherst Transfer Fee legislation proposed at the state level. Amherst wants to do this without state legislation. We could do something like this in Easthampton.  Rent Control Legislation  Town Lodging – no update from Valley CDC on status on project Meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.