Housing Task Force

Housing Task Force Meeting # 41 Minutes Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 @7:00 pm Location: Village Hall Conference Room 222 Grace Church St Port Chester NY Attendees: Chester Edwards, Monica Fonseca, Joan Grangenois-Thomas, Kathy Pandekakes, Jane Lippman, Aldo Vitagliano, Andrew Weiss, Ursula Winchell, Arley Arno, Jane Lippman, Catrina Shivers. Absent: Meeting opened 7:05pm via a unanimous motion by Andrew Weiss and seconded by Aldo Vitagliano. Meeting Overview The Task Force met to review the Housing Action Council (HAC) presentation and discuss challenges related to Port Chester’s housing development projects. Topics included financing barriers for developers, infrastructure limitations, and housing affordability trends. The group also examined local population and housing data, noting gaps and inconsistencies that may affect policy recommendations. Key Discussion Points A. HAC Presentation Review • The committee reviewed the HAC presentation and discussed its strengths and limitations. • We noted that the recommendations section lacked detailed narrative explanations. • It was suggested requesting that HAC provide a written narrative to accompany slides 18–22. • The group agreed to verify that the data presented in slide 14 accurately reflects Port Chester’s market trends. B. Communication and Outreach Concerns • Members emphasized the need for better resident outreach and timely notifications. • The group also discussed upcoming Board of Trustees meetings and the importance of clearly presenting the HAC findings. C. Port Chester Development Challenges • It was reported that only two of the approved development projects in Port Chester are progressing due to high costs, financing challenges, and infrastructure delays. • Rising construction expenses and the assumption that infrastructure upgrades would be provided at no cost have discouraged investment. • The Task Force also discussed a potential hotel-to-apartment conversion project, noting its small scale and limited impact. D. Property Development and Cost Issues • The group discussed the financial burden from a multi-municipality lawsuit settlement with Veolia requiring developers to pay $6,000 per unit, costs that are passed on to ratepayers. • It was noted that mortgage tax deductions should be considered when analyzing homeownership costs. • The group examined affordability data showing that approximately 30% of residents’ income is spent on housing. E. Rental Market and Data Reliability • Members reviewed rental market data, observing that many entries were incomplete (N/A) and may require qualification in the final report. • They agreed that while rental prices have remained stable, rising utility costs continue to affect overall affordability. F. Housing Needs and Population Insights • The Task Force discussed discrepancies in census data, especially related to undocumented residents, and agreed this may skew affordability analysis. • They acknowledged the importance of addressing the unique housing needs of Port Chester’s immigrant community. Action Items / Next Steps • Contact Tiffany with clarification questions about the HAC presentation and share responses with the Task Force. • Reach out to Greg on Monday to invite him to the November 13th meeting. • Break down housing policy topics into smaller subgroups for focused work after the November meeting. • Request additional information from HAC on the age and types of housing units in Port Chester. • Verify that slide 14’s market trends data is specific to Port Chester. • Develop narrative explanations for HAC recommendations on slides 18–22. • Prepare a draft housing report that includes detailed narrative explanations of the HAC recommendations. Meeting closed at 8:02pm by unanimous motion by Aldo Vitagliano and seconded by Andrew Weiss. Next Meeting is Thursday, November 13, 2025 7pm at the Port Chester Senior Center 222 Grace Church Street Port Chester NY.