Show your support for Town Meeting Housing Initiatives
In this newsletter:
Housing related articles in the town warrant
FAQ about the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw
Watch the Pre-town Meeting
Annual Town Meeting is on Saturday, June 26th
WHERE: Ball Field across from Wellfleet Elementary School, 100 Lawrence Rd
WHEN: Saturday, June 26th at 10 am
Article 21: Wastewater Mitigation I 95 Lawrence Road Cluster Wastewater Treatment Facility
Voters will be asked to approve two funding articles related to 95 Lawrence Road, a 46-unit housing initiative currently seeking bids from developers. The proposed wastewater treatment plan was subject to a comprehensive and collaborative review by the select board, waste water commissioners and waste water committee. The project intersects favorably with the town’s targeted watershed management plan, required for compliance with the Clean Water Act.
Article 21, Wastewater Mitigation | 95 Lawrence Road Cluster Wastewater Treatment Facility seeks funding amount not to exceed $1,931,886 for the purpose of, designing, permitting, and constructing of wastewater facilities in conjunction with an Affordable Housing Project at 95 Lawrence Road.
The plan for affordable housing on Lawrence Road in Wellfleet includes a wastewater system that would help reduce nutrients draining into Duck Creek, pictured here. (Source: Provincetown Independent)
The Town will provide part of the costs for advanced wastewater treatment facilities located at this site. The plan is to install a cluster system servicing both the housing project and the Wellfleet Elementary School, the Police Station, and Fire Station in Phase I. Connecting these town-owned buildings will result in a net improvement of water quality in the neighborhood even after accounting for the housing project. Phase II is planned to connect a number of the surrounding properties to this system which will cost significantly less money than individual septic system upgrades, a centralized sewer system, or any other means evaluated. This project will result in a net reduction of groundwater pollution and nutrient loading in the Duck Creek Watershed.
Articles 45 and 46: Accessory Dwelling Unit Bylaw
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Bylaw change seeks to expand the ADU bylaw to be allowed by right as long as other town regulations are met and rented year round.
Why are there two slightly different versions of this article in the warrant? Article 45 is the bylaw proposed by the Local Housing Partnership as adopted and edited by the Select Board. Article 46 is a Petitioned Article and is the same proposed bylaw but without the Select Board edits. A Petitioned Article signed by at least 10 certified voters MUST appear in the warrant and exactly as submitted. This guarantees to the petitioners that their proposal is seen by the voters at Annual Town Meeting. The Select Board’s adoption of the article allows it to be reviewed by Town Counsel and edited by the Select Board before going before the voters. If Article 45 (Select Board’s) passes Article 46 (Petitioned Article) will not be considered at Town Meeting. If Article 45 does not pass, it is still possible to consider Article 46.
Read FAQ's on the proposed ADU bylaw, Articles 45 and 46 here.
Source: capecod.com
Articles 28 and 44: Affordable Housing Trust
Article 28, Building the Affordable Housing Trust
Article 28 seeks to appropriate the CPA budgeted housing reserve the projected FY22 revenue for a total of $500,000 to be designated to the newly established Affordable Housing Trust. This funding will support affordable and workforce housing initiatives to address our year-round housing crisis. It will also be used to support the creation of new rental and homeownership opportunities including extending the town's successful Buy-Down, Rental Assistance and Down Payment Programs.
Article 44, Affordable Housing Trust Bylaw
This proposed bylaw reflects the powers granted to affordable housing trusts under the state model and expands the authority of the Trust to allow creation, preservation, and support of housing in the Wellfleet for families earning up to 120% of Area Median Income.
Article 17: Amend Rate of Local Excise Tax on Short Term Rentals
Voters will be asked to amend the short-term rental tax rate from 4% to 6%. Beginning of July 2019, the short-term rental tax which is an expansion of the existing rooms occupancy tax included short-term rentals, such as homes, cottages and apartments rented through Airbnb and Homeaway now VRBO. Towns that already charge the maximum 6% include Provincetown, Orleans and Brewster. The towns of Eastham and Truro will also be seeking authorization to maximize what state law allows towns to collect on vacation home rentals. The goal is to designate a percentage of these funds to the Wellfleet Affordable Housing Trust to continue funding for critical housing initiatives that help our year-round community.