York Town News
Workforce Housing Committee regroups
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - The members of the all-volunteer Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee have had their work cut out for them.
Appointed by the prior Board of Selectmen, the committee began as a mix of two selectmen and two York Housing Authority representatives with three members of the general public. The committee was tasked with addressing York's need to provide workforce and affordable housing options within the community. According to the state's growth law, at least 10 percent of new housing units built in a community with a growth ordinance, such as York, must be affordable.
After the resignation of several members for various reasons, and the election of a Kinley Gregg over incumbent Selectman Len Dorrian on May 19, the committee has had to regroup.
Meeting informally on Thursday, May 24, the remaining committee members discussed what is next as they await the next Board of Selectmen meeting, when a new representative from that board will be chosen to replace Dorrian. Also at that meeting, two representatives from the general public are expected to be appointed to once again allow for a quorum on the committee.
Speaking during their recent meeting, Selectmen Chairman Mike Estes, who is one of the board's representatives to the group, said the committee has had its share of struggles to work through.
The committee has had to wrestle with such issues as the income guidelines for determining housing eligibility as well as who would receive preference for the housing - such as people who currently work in York - and how to address zoning provisions such as density to encourage the development of affordable housing.
And, Estes said, "this is just a small part of the affordable housing issue in this area."
Currently, the committee is considering household income guidelines of $36,700 to $87,720 per year to qualify for workforce housing in York. Those numbers represent between 50 and 100 percent of the annual median income for the area. There are no specifications in terms of the size of each household.
The committee members, along with York Housing Authority Director Patricia Martine who explained that she and other YHA board members often attend the meetings to serve as resources for the committee, discussed such options as a range of housing, from rental units to condominiums to single-family homes, to meet the needs of different income levels.
The committee members present said they believe the York Housing Authority should oversee the management of affordable and workforce housing in town, pointing to the success of the YHA's various senior housing complexes on York Street and just off Long Sands Road.
"York Housing Authority has the expertise to qualify people," Estes said.
Jim Gambrill, one of the York Housing Authority representatives to the committee, said the "elephant in the room" when looking at ways to encourage workforce housing availability in town is what the density allowances will be for single-family homes, apartments or condominiums.
"That's they key and that's the hard one," agreed Rozanna Patane, a community representative on the committee. She recommended receiving reports from other communities and from developers specializing in affordable housing on the best ways to address the needs and ways they have created a range of housing that fits with the community and offers affordable options for individuals and families.
Selectman Ted Little, who attended the meeting as a member of the public and has expressed interest in serving as a representative to the committee, referenced cluster housing models he has reviewed in which affordable housing units have been added as part of the community, fitting with the character of the surrounding homes.
"We want houses to be built that are a part of the neighborhood," Estes said.
The committee had hoped to have a draft ordinance ready this month, with a goal of having a question on the ballot in November for voter approval. However, those in attendance at the May 24 meeting agreed that with the many recent changes on the committee and the struggle to address the layers of issues involved, that timeline does not appear to be realistic. Instead, the committee is hoping to have the question on the ballot for next May.
"I think this has one shot of making it, and it has to be done right," Estes said.
Patane said that while the focus has been on workforce housing, that is not the only issue.
"I think it's an opportunity for us to meet the entire affordable housing need," she said of the extended timeline for the committee's work.
The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet this Monday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the York Public Library. At that time, the board is expected to make appointments to the Workforce/Affordable Housing Committee.
