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ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Meeting Minutes of January 29, 2007
Town Administration Building,
Meeting Room #1, 7:00 PM
Chairman Tony Andre called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Present were regular members Norman Czech, Ingrid Thompson, Russ Brown, Walter Solzak, and Dennis Fountain. Also present was clerk, Mary Watson, recording minutes.
7:00 PM – Approve the affordable housing market plan: Crystal Lake condominiums marketing plan of forty four home ownership condominiums on land consisting of approximately fourteen acres located at 1 Fuller Road, Palmer. Beverly Barry presented the marketing plan for Crystal Lake. Larry Rosenberg, developer from Crystal Lake Village Inc. was also present. Beverly read over comments from Attorney Michael Ciota. Beverly advised they are hoping to start the information sessions to the public on February 9, 2007. There are two dates scheduled for presentation to the public. The first date is scheduled for February 28 at 7:00 p.m. and the second is March 3 at 11:00 a.m. They wanted to provide to the public a weeknight and a weekend day for the information
sessions. N.Czech suggested that the seminars be held at the library, since it is more centrally located, and not the town hall. Beverly advised they would market the information sessions in local newspapers, cable channels, and flyers to be put around town. N.Czech asked about what information would be provided to the public at the information sessions. Beverly advised that facts about the actual site, the lottery process, the application process and what they would need to include in the application. They would need to go to a lender and get pre-approval. Also, to advise the public there is a deed rider, and they are not buying the condominiums for an investment. The packet includes: application, homebuyer disclosure statement, homeownership application, disclosure form, and site layout. The affordable units are marked with an “A” on the site layout. Beverly will be marketing the schools and residents with flyers, and
packets will be left at town hall and at the library. The goal is to get 80% to Palmer residents. They want to have 8 of the 11 units for Palmer residents. Beverly advised that 21% of the applicants have to be minorities. Minority households are identified in accordance with the regulatory classifications established by HUD (Housing and Urban Development): Native American or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander; African-American; Hispanic/Latino; or Cape Verdean. Beverly advised that there would be information in all the classes with about forty people in the class. N.Czech advised that he is concerned with the Palmer residents not being guaranteed a spot in the units. N.Czech advised that as stated in number four of the decision that the sale of seventy percent of the affordable units shall be given to person or families of who are either Palmer residents and/or be children of Palmer residents and/or employees to the town of
Palmer. There was nothing stated in the decision about minorities. N.Czech will consult with attorney M.Ciota regarding this matter. Larry Rosenberg advised that the people that are filling out the application have to have a fair chance as everyone else in the pool. He stated that 21% of the candidates must be minority applicants in the Palmer Pool, and the state mandates this through CHAPA. If not, Beverly needs to pull from the big pool, which would include the cities outside of Palmer. Beverly advised that CHAPA (Citizens Housing and Planning Association) wants her to prove that she has reached out to the minorities by printing it in the Spanish newspaper and provide flyers in Spanish. Beverly advised that CHAPA is a nonprofit group out of Boston. Beverly advised she couldn’t market the affordable housing plan until Zoning Board of Appeals approves the plan. L.Rosenberg advises that they are progressing quite well and
the first building is ready for rough plumbing inspection and the rough electrical was inspected. The second building has been capped and partitioned. Occupancy on the first building will be taking place in April. Motion by D.Fountain to approve the Crystal Lake Village Housing Market plan based on the changes from M.Ciota. Seconded by R.Brown. The vote passed (6:0) N.Czech advised that the approval is pending, and they are waiting for the changes from M.Ciota to be updated by Beverly into the marketing plan. Beverly will send the updated plan to clerk Mary Watson, and Mary will forward to M.Ciota.
Meeting minutes of December 20, 2006-Motion by N.Czech to approve the minutes. Seconded by D.Fountain. The vote passed. (6:0)
8:05 PM- Motion by N.Czech to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by D.Fountain. All in favor (6:0)
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