The ZBA recently held its kickoff evidentiary hearing for the 40B project called Pine Hill Village. It is proposed for an 18-acre parcel of land on Stow Road. At that meeting, we learned from the developer that Harvard’s Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT), without a public hearing as required by its own bylaws, has committed $100,000 of taxpayer money to the project to “buy down” additional affordable units. In effect, we are subsidizing this marginal 40B project. Is this how we want to use our very limited affordable-housing funds?
Using MAHT funds to “buy down” market-rate units to affordables is a good approach, but the buy-downs should be done with existing 40B projects. Committing to the expenditure for a new project, in effect, endorses the project and provides a subsidy which improves its economics. In this case, the project is on land that has had several conventional developments turned down by the town boards since it has so many problems. The Board of Health has already submitted a letter to the ZBA on Pine Hill indicating that “the applicant is intentionally proposing the project so as to avoid certain sections of Title 5.”
The question arises: Should the town commit more funds to the MAHT? (They have a request before the CPC for an additional $150,000.) We say, not unless the Trust changes its bylaws to get Town Meeting approval for the use of town funds, as does every other board and committee in Harvard. The MAHT has demonstrated that it does indeed need this level of oversight, and we urge that citizens demand it.
Anthony J. Marolda, Jacob Gates Road
Wade Holtzman, Bolton Road
Keith Cheveralls, Quarry Road
