TOWN OF BERLIN
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
COMMITTEE
The Housing Partnership Committee had a very busy year
in 2003. Early in the year Mr. Jon Deli Priscoli presented to the Selectmen
a plan for a 40B project on the north side of River Road West next to
the Danford Tyler homestead (Spooky World). This would include five
full house lots along River Road West and the remainder of the back
property would contain 32 housing units, 25% of which would be required
to be affordable (8 units0. 40B projects allow the developer to be exempt
from local Bylaws and conform only to state regulations.
Later, Mr. Daniel McCarty presented to this Committee and the Selectmen
a plan called a Local Initiative Project (LIP). It will be located on
Whitney Road and contain 5 duplex dwellings. It will include 3 affordable
units. This type of development is also a 40B project, but where the
developer submits his or her plans to the Town first, rather than going
to the State for approval and then telling the Town it is expected to
comply.
Other important matters included our responding to the State Executive
Order 418 which awarded $30,000 to every city and town that submits
their plans for Housing, Open Space, Transportation and Economic Development.
Transportation and Economic Development plans were waived because this
was just completed. Mr. Richard Taintor is overseeing the Open Space
component and Mr. Stephen Wallace of the Central Massachusetts Regional
Planning Commission, (CMRPC) helped pull together the Housing component.
The Housing Survey component is available at the Town Clerk's office
or click on
HOUSING SURVEYy
We continue to strive for the expansion of Northbrook
Village to meet the growing elderly need for grouped apartments with
handicapped accessibility. In-kind contributions, such as adult day
care, meals served, perhaps a visiting medical consultation area, etc.,
will need to be discussed with HUD before a loan will be processed.
We continue to work with the Treasurer to look at Tax Title properties
as they are released to the Town by Land Court.
Lastly, and probably the most important for the Town in the long run
is the Inclusion By-Law passed by the Town at its October 20th meeting.
This was sponsored by the Planning Board in conjunction with the Housing
Partnership. The purpose of this By-Law is to increase the supply of
housing in the Town that is available to and affordable by the lowest
income, low income and moderate income household who might otherwise
have difficulty in finding homes in Berlin. We thank the town for its
favorable vote
Metro Area/.........100%
of Area Median...........80% of Area Median.........50% of Area Median............30%
of Area Median
County......................Income (family of 4).............Income
("low income").....Income ("very low...............Income
("extremely low
........................................................................by
family..........................income") by Family..............income")
by Family
...............................................Size...................................Size......................................Size
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________
Boston
MSA $74,200........................4
58,300 4 37,100 4 22,250
................................................................3 52,500 3 33,400
3 20,050
................................................................2 46,650 2 29,700
2 17,800
................................................................1
40,800 1 25,950 1
15,600
We also would like to thank the Town Officials and Boards, including CMRPC, who have made our efforts easier and enjoyable. This Board considers it a pleasure and privilege to serve all the members of the community. Please feel free to join us at our meetings. They are posted at least 48 hours in advance in the Town Offices Building.
Respectfully Submitted,
Frances
Gill
Alice Kidder
William Lowe
Lynda Nelson
Eloise Salls
Willard Wheeler