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95 Lawrence Rd. Information

95 Lawrence Road Rental Homes - Update

A Community Response to Wellfleet’s Economic and Environmental Challenges

Background

  • Because of our seasonal economy, Wellfleet has a critical shortage of both year-round rental housing and units affordable to essential workers, including town employees. These are the people all Wellfleet residents depend upon for home repairs, retail services, health care, public safety, etc. This has also contributed to the low number of young families living in Wellfleet.
  • In response to this crisis, Wellfleet’s 2018 town meeting voted unanimously to offer the last large parcel of town-owned land – 6 acres of the 9-acre site at 95 Lawrence Road across from the elementary school – to a developer that agrees to construct affordable rental housing that satisfies a set of Select Board-approved standards. To make the project affordable the town will lease the site for $1 per year.
  • The town formed a task force with representatives of the School Committee, Planning Board, Housing Authority, Water Commissioners, Building Needs Committee, Wellfleet Seasonal Residents Association, the Local Housing Partnership, and the Select Board to draft a request for proposals (RFP) that the town will issue to potential developers of the site. The Commonwealth’s quasi-public Massachusetts Housing Partnership provided technical assistance, including funding for feasibility and engineering studies. The town expects to issue the RFP this spring and hopes construction will begin in 2023.
  • The Lawrence Road Task Force held a well-attended community forum in January 2020 to describe the site and plans for its development and to collect input on what residents want incorporated into the RFP.
  • Once the town chooses a developer and that company prepares detailed plans, members of the Wellfleet community will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the plan during the zoning and related public permitting processes.

The Proposal

  • The developer can build up to 46 housing units. At least 50% of the units must be affordable to households with income that is below 80% of the area median income. However, the proposed RFP is expected to explain that the town is more likely to select a developer that will deliver 85% of the units below that income level. Furthermore, the town is seeking households with income between 30% and 120% of the area median. (Even 120% cannot afford market rate rents in Wellfleet).
  • The proposed RFP is anticipated to include illustrated design guidelines to ensure the buildings reflect and are compatible with the existing architecture and style of the Wellfleet community. The goal is for the development to look like it belongs in Wellfleet.
  • The development is to include buildings of various sizes and the landscaping is to be consistent with Wellfleet’s character.

Neighborhood Impact

  1. The town is seeking that all access to the property will be on Lawrence Road.
  2. The site plan must:
  • be sensitive to neighborhood and adjacent properties.
  • include exterior lighting that minimizes the impact on neighbors and the night sky.
  • use the natural topography as much as feasible.
  • keep natural buffer with surrounding residential neighbors.
  • maintain and enhance natural vegetation along Long Pond Road.

Environmental Impact

  1. The town’s decision to build affordable housing at the Lawrence Road site helps solve two of Wellfleet’s worrisome infrastructure problems.
  • As a result of the town’s decision to build affordable housing on Lawrence Road, the Commonwealth made a $2.5 million grant which, along with other funding from the town, will pay for a water main to supply the planned housing development and resolve a long-standing problem with the town’s water system, enabling it to be in compliance with state regulations.
  • Wastewater generated by the Lawrence Road housing would ordinarily add to the nitrogen flowing into Duck Creek and the harbor. However, planning for the housing prompted the town to explore alternatives. By replacing the less efficient wastewater systems currently serving the school, and fire and police stations and connecting them to an advanced sewage treatment and wastewater disposal system for the housing, Wellfleet can reduce the nitrogen in Duck Creek and the expense through a costs-sharing arrangement with the developer.

Timeline

  • August 2018 Town receives a grant from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) to conduct a site feasibility study of 95 Lawrence Road. The study conducted by Coastal Engineering Co. determined the site had the capacity to support a development of 90 bedrooms.
  • April 22, 2019 Article 42 on the Annual Town Meeting warrant passed unanimously authorizing a long-term lease of six acres at 95 Lawrence Road for affordable housing
  • May 28, 2019 Town Administrator forms the 95 Lawrence Road Task Force and appoints representatives from eight town departments, boards and organizations to develop the town’s solicitation for a developer for the site.
  • June 21, 2019 First of 18 public meetings of the 95 Lawrence Road Task Force to develop a Request for Proposal for a developer. Technical support provided free of charge to the Task Force throughout the process by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
  • January 6, 2020 The 95 Lawrence Road Task Force hosted a well-attended Community Engagement Forum at the senior center
  • January 9, 2020 The Town is awarded a $100,000 Housing Choice Grant to study upgrading the water system to meet regulatory requirements for the housing at 95 Lawrence Road and the Town.
  • February 18, 2020 The Town is awarded a $30,000 grant from the Cape Cod Commission to study alternative wastewater systems for 95 Lawrence Road
  • May 5, 2020 Select Board held a public meeting to review the draft Request for proposal (RFP) and design guidelines
  • September 12, 2020 Article 10 on the Annual Town Meeting warrant authorized up to $3.8 million in backup borrowing to upgrade the water system to meet regulatory requirements and supply water to 95 Lawrence Road.
  • September 22, 2020 Select Board approves RFP pending addition of information from the wastewater study
  • November 19, 2020 Commonwealth of Massachusetts awards a $2.5 million MassWorks grant to Wellfleet to upgrade the water system.
  • March 9, 2021 Select Board approves the Request for Proposal to enable the Town to issue the RFP
  • May 12, 2021 95 Lawrence Road Rental Homes project announced in the Central Register. The RFP can be requested by contacting Wellfleet’s Assistant Town Administrator: Rebecca.slick@wellfleet-ma.gov
  • August 2, 2021 Deadline for proposals  from developers in response to the RFP

Useful Links

  • To subscribe to the Wellfleet Housing Authority’s newsletter, go to its website: wellfleetaffordablehousing.org
  • To receive notifications of meetings regarding 95 Lawrence Road Task Force, send a request via email to wellfleetaffordablehousing@gmail.com.

 

Click on the link to see all the bid documents: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bttxqc7ewt9pc5d/AAByCsYY6AAnssEMBXBjaOyIa?dl=0