Minutes July 23, 2003 PB

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TOWN OF CANTON
PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING
TOWN HALL
SALAH MEETING ROOM
WEDNESDAY
JULY 23,2003

Members present: David Merrigan, Chairman, Peter Pineo, Vice Chairman, Jeremy Comeau, Clerk, Dean
Miller and George Jenkins.

7:00 P.M.

INTERIM HOUSING STRATEGY PLAN PUBLIC HEARING

Upon a motion made by Mr. Comeau and seconded by Mr. Pineo, to open the Public Hearing, the Board voted
unanimously 5-0 in favor.

Upon a motion made by Mr. Comeau and seconded by Mr. Pineo, to waive the reading of the Public
Hearing notice, the Board voted unanimously in favor, 5-0.

The Public Hearing started with a presentation by the Chairman stating that the Planning Board has been
asked to weigh in on the housing strategy that will be submitted to the State. The purpose is to show the State
that we have been working to our goal to reach the 10% of our affordable housing. This is also a defensive
mechanism so that if the Town sees us making progress towards our 10% and making commitments, then we
can better be able to pick our projects that we want. The Town Planner, in his draft, has revised his study
and it calls for committing for 65 units per year.
The Intermit Housing study focuses on meeting our goal by having the private sector build the houses. It also
talks about using the Wardwell site, Town own property, as part of that strategy. We are here to discuss that
possibility. The problem would be that we have to live by the commitments and if we don't, that could be used
against us. He asked if this is going to help us or hurt us if we don't meet them.

Roger Nicholas spoke on his update. He has updated his housing strategy. This was distributed to the
audience. He added a last chapter on page 8, called Chp. 4. It is the same strategy, but is clearer.
Basically, it uses previous used sites, and avoids Greenfields. We should first look towards Brownfields and
sites that could be recycled. The plan has to be updated every year. He went on to state that when a
developer comes in, we hand them a list of sites we want to be recycled. Roger has talked to those in the
State and they stated things change. If we say we are going to develop 65 units at Wardwell, we have a
access problem.

Mr. Merrigan asked if we approve a plan and nobody comes along, and no action happens.
Mr. Pineo feels we should have a more realistic list of options for developers. Brownfields take longer to clean
up and approve for building through State organization.

George Jenkins asked if 1100 housing units is what is needed. Yes. He asked who is creating the problem.
Is it the Town or the developers. Should we look at Zoning. Should we say to those before us, you will give
one more than 10% in the approval. In the CCEOD there is not requirement in there for affordable housing.
10% plus one. That will get us nearer our number. Brownfields cost money to clean up. The way to
affordable housing is to integrate it in all neighborhoods. At the Wardwell site, it is a big cut and fill operation.
The volume of gravel is not that much. There are big holes there. He feels there should be some zoning
changes. Simply put, if you want something, we want something. "Community is integration. "

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