SRPEDD Outlines Housing Production Plan Process

            Eric Arbeene, principal comprehensive planner with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), was on conference call with members of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust, who met on Tuesday night at the Music Hall to discuss the process that will culminate with a five-year update of the town’s Housing Production Plan.

            During its September 15 meeting, the Affordable Housing Trust requested $45,000 from the Community Preservation Committee (as it had in 2015) to fund a feasibility study approved at the June 22 Town Meeting for the purposes of identifying opportunities to expand on Marion’s amount of affordable and subsidized housing. The Affordable Housing Trust also requested $8,000 for SRPEDD’s assistance in updating its Housing Production Plan.

            In its October 13 meeting at the Music Hall, Arbeene discussed a number of aspects regarding the path SRPEDD will take in order to compile a Housing Needs Assessment and ultimately a Housing Production Plan. Arbeene worked with Marion as it developed its Master Plan in 2017 and has ongoing work with the Bylaw Codification Subcommittee.

            In referencing economic changes, Arbeene asked the question, “How have our goals changed in light of this data? Strategies, have they held up, should we replace them, have we accomplished them? A lot has changed in seven years, a lot has changed in the last seven months so we anticipate many changes.”

            In distinguishing between Affordable Housing and affordable housing, “two different things,” said he said, Arbeene suggested members of the Affordable Housing Trust focus open-mindedly on subsidized housing. At the same time, he will provide an update on needs assessments, demographics, households, and data. Even though the 2020 census information will not be part of his report, he is confident using the most-recent available data (2010).

            Alluding to developments holding an overall potential to get Marion close to the magic 10 percent in subsidized housing that categorically improves a town’s standing for potential state and federal subsidies, Arbeene asked for updates on those projects. Arbeene told the Affordable Housing Trust that one town in the SRPEDD region has established 17 percent in affordable housing.

            Having been a zoning board of appeals chairman in his own town, Arbeene acknowledged the many “ins and outs” of 40B housing and asked the question if Marion wants to focus on other areas as to how to diversify its housing.

            Administrative Assistant Terri Santos said she would update Arbeene with the latest on Marion’s Capital Improvement Planning Committee funds and the budget.

            The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for November 10.

Marion Affordable Housing Trust

By Mick Colageo

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