Housing Implementation Committee

Meeting date: 
Friday, February 23, 2024

Town of Princeton, Mass. -- Online Meeting

Housing Implementation Committee Minutes 2/23/2024, 9:00 am

Present: Co-chairs Carla Zottoli and Deb Cary

Jennifer Shenk

Jennifer Greene, Advisory Board

Phil Gott, Selectboard

Richy Bisk

Barbara Guthrie, Coun

cil on Aging

Ann Neuburg, Planning Board

Guest: Roger Brooks

Call to Order: 9:02

Administrative: Carla: Motion to approve minutes of the 1-24-2024 meeting as submitted.

Deb: second

Vote: unanimous approve.

Discussions: Westminster site visit

Carla, Jen S. Deb. Roger Brooks visited Westminster where the town is starting to construct rental apartment-style, 1 bedroom, over-55, affordable/disabled housing.

The project will be owned by the developer with a 99 year lease on the land.

Started in 2017, the project is being built on land purchased for that purpose years before that. Start of the project was delayed by changes in town administrations. Jen S. commented on how costs sharply rose due to delays. Additional finding was required. The funding sources created a requirement that 60% of residents be from Westminster (unusual for this type of housing). Tracy (Westminster) will get back to Jen with the fund source for bridging the budget gap for the project.

Richy: it might be useful to understand the impediments faced by Westminster so we can avoid similar delays.

Follow-up questions: what were the sources of delay in construction, and what was the additional funding source used to bridge the budget gap? We should also look at their RFP.

Princeton Housing Needs

Apartment style housing with small units is probably not appropriate for Princeton’s downsizing seniors. What seniors said they want: One floor living, laundry on the same floor, 1.5+ bathrooms, one car garage, small lot, ~1400 sq. ft.living space.

This is different than workforce/affordable housing. The committee is learning about developing both.

Parcel Review

Carla: landowners may not be aware that a denser neighborhood of smaller houses might be welcome. Richie: Princeton occasionally acquires properties via tax default.

  •  Worcester Road (Mcall):100-acre parcel of which the front ~28.96 acres is of interest for development. Worcester Water and Open Space are very interested in protecting this parcel. Possible multiple players/funders for developing the site. Location is great with 2 access points. Very attractive for 40B project.
  •  Worcester Road (Jacobson/JAKAY): 76.45 acres with some wetlands. Worcester Water and Open Space are very interested in protecting this parcel. Might require centralized septic. Also within the Village Overlay District. Also a good location (good access for emergency response, close to PO Place.
  •  Worcester Road (abuts Hunter & Gather): provides access to other parcels on Worcester Road. May be too small for development. Carla will talk to the owner.
  •  Redwood/Sharon (Ketonen): 20.5 acres. Some water on the site. Maybe combine with some back land 157 Worcester Rd? How to approach abutters??

Richie: Here is what we can share with people about our efforts: ”There is a Town committee looking into building more housing, particularly for people who are getting older and wish to downsize. We are trying to identify parcels of land that people might be interested in selling. Should we keep you on the list, or leave you alone.?”

  •  30 Mountain Road (17.29). Site of old Inn. Town may up with control of the parcel. If the Town ends up with control (but not ownership) possible site. Also abouts undeveloped land that could be possible added to site. Richie: clearcutting has created washouts on Prospect. Deb will ask Sherry about current status.
  •  Between 23 and 33 Hubbardston Road: 11.4 acres.
  •  18 Boylston Ave (1.64 acres): Abuts Center School parcel (public safety building site).
  •  38 Radford and 91A Hubbardston (3.92 acres): 38 may have been sold. Has a private restriction that may prevent development.
  •  13 Boylston Ave (Wachusett House): Deb is still planning to schedule scheduled to speak with Ann Sullivan, director of WH. Deb has heard that they can barely keep up with maintenance and would likely not be able to manage more units. and not able to manage more units.
  •  106 Main Street (20.36 acres): Combine Mechanics Hall with land behind it. Would require crossing wetlands ($$). Might solve the problem of Mechanics Hall and abutting business. It is unclear if the site is feasible.
  •  Sterling/Etsy Road (10.3 and 58.8 acres): Calcia. Has been considered for other projects (golf course, high school)). Location is near travel routes.
  •  Mountain Road (Wachusett Mt. Assoc.) 55.95 acres: Can this parcel tie into the Westminster sewer line? Deb will investigate.
  •  366 Mirick Road (Mirick/EAJ Trust) 100.68 acres. Site designated for MBTA Adjacent Communities zoning area.

Carla suggested that the Committee consider focusing on the parcels in and around Post Office Place and the Village Overlay District as those seem the most accessible, easiest to develop, and so work on these to start.

Open Meeting Compliance

Review of steps to prevent violation of MA Open Meeting law regarding emails.

ADU Count

Ann presented information about ADUs. She searched records at Town Hall and attended “Backyard ADUs”, a webinar about tiny houses as backyard ADUs. A possible funding source is the MA Home Improvement grant program to pay for creating an ADU. Can we do a workshop about ADUs and how they might work for residents. The Planning Board is on board to do another period of forgiveness.

ADUs are well suited to house seniors in place, but do not address affordable housing.

Meeting Cadence, Date, and Time

Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 9:00 am.

New TO DOs: Ann: distribute Village Overlay District bylaw

Jen S.: try to get list of homes with extra kitchens.

Next Meeting: March 13, 2024 9:00 am

Adjourn: Deb - Motion to adjourn

Carla - Second

Vote: unanimous aye

Adjourn at 10:24.

Referenced documents:

Respectfully Submitted Ann Neuburg