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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaster Plan Council 11/19/1986TOWN OF MANSFIELD MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL Date of meeting: Location of meeting: Members Present: MINUTES OF MEETING Wednesday, November 19, 1986, 7:30 P.M. Watson Lecture Hall, Wheaton College Norton, Massachusetts Kelli Spedden Paul Folkman Robert Whitney Richard Callinan Allen Willis This was the first regional meeting of the representatives of the Planning Council's of Mansfield, Norton, and Taunton in accordance with the terms of a $40,000 tri -town grant from the state to study affordable housing. Mr. Bill Fitzgerald, who has been Norton's Planning Director and has recently accepted the position of Planning Director of Taunton, opened this meeting with a brief review of the housing problems currently facing the three towns. Current owners of homes do not have this problem, but those residents who do not currently own, but want to remain within these towns, are often unable to do so because of rapidly rising housing costs. The "Rhode Island Solution" has been one of the answers to this, residents move to lower cost housing areas, such as Rhode Island, in the hope they will one day be able to afford to return to the town of their choice. This study is to find better solutions to this problem within towns. Mr. Fitzgerald introduced Mr. Bob Catineau and Dr. Rolf Goetze of Connery Associates, who would be conducting this meeting, and explaining various housing techniques and options in affordable housing which might help these towns establish and accomplish their housing goals. Presentations by Consultants Mr. Catineau informed the audience that the presentation would include background information to make all three towns aware of the various options open to them, and to explain what "affordable housing" is. Dr. Goetze began the presentation by introducing a number of slides which illustrated the current housing situation of each of the three towns, including changes in population distribution by age, changes in the proportion of types of housing units, changes in median home values from 1970 to 1986, and types of housing needed. In completing this portion of the presentation, he explained some of the different options in affordable housing, including condominium, townhouse multi -unit, congregate, coop/mutual. In outlining some adaptive reuses of existing properties he explained accessory apartments, match -up programs, group living residences and echo housing. - 1 - TOWN OF MANSFIELD MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING (cont) Presentations by Consultants (cont Mr. Catineau conducted the second part of the presentation, which included slides illustrating the different types of housing currently in each of the three towns, some buildings which would be well suited to adaptive uses, some of the new construction, and some slides of affordable housing alternatives such as cluster housing and manufactured housing that have been developed in other parts of the country. In his presentation of housing in Mansfield he noted that the majority of the multi -family units constructed recently have been in the Downtown area, and explained some of the benefits of increasing density in housing in some areas to preserve more open space in others. Dr. Goetze provided information on what the State is currently doing to aid the problem of affordable housing, with programs for low-income, elderly, and special needs housing. In concluding this presentation, Dr. Goetze stated that now that the towns had some background in the affordable housing concept and some understanding of the diversity of housing styles available, it was time to begin the next stage of planning, which would include developing ideas for round -table sessions of Connery Associates with the three towns' Councils individually. He also informed those present that Connery Associates would be forwarding to the Planning Directors of each town draft copies of their proposals. Once these are reviewed by the Planning Directors they will be distributed to Council members. Following the formal presentation of Connery Associates there was an informal discussion period. Some of the questions raised were how to meet the problem of community resistance to new types of housing forms, the possible effects of establishing a transfer tax and the best use of money raised, the possibilities of including design controls in zoning changes, and how best to educate town residents in the need for affordable housing and the means for providing it. Ms. Spedden noted in particular previous resistance in Mansfield over the concept of cluster housing, which seems to be a very viable technique towards affordable housing. She asked if Connery would be available to draft such a proposal if the Council felt that cluster housing should be proposed in Mansfield. Dr. Goetze assured the Council that such a proposal would be part of the scope of their services, if necessary, in the housing study. Both Mr. Catineau and Dr. Goetze assured the Council members that Connery Associates would be assisting each town in answering these questions and educating their residents in these concepts. - 2 - TOWN OF MANSFIELD MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING (cont) No date was set for the next meeting of the Mansfield Master Plan Advisory Council with Connery Associates, but Mr. Catineau stated it would be scheduled as soon as possible after their drafts were reviewed by the Planning Directors. 0�la d -a /0 & ' '6 Respectfully ssubmitted,` C&O//,/P MIL( lCZ,., - 3 - Deborah Hillman Secretary