What you should know - The Proposed Maple Street project

There seems to be a lot of confusion and even disinformation being batted around town about the proposed senior affordable housing project on Maple Street in Wenham.  I would like to set the record straight on a number of the misconceptions I am hearing. 

First, the Wenham Affordable Housing Trust or WAHT did vote to provide $850,000 in grant funding – provided the project first receives a comprehensive permit from the ZBA.  The WAHT grant must also be approved by the Board of Selectmen. 

To reiterate, there has not been a vote to approve this project.  The developer has not even submitted an application for approval. 

Many of the concerns I hear raised, such as the project’s impact on utilities, neighboring homes and traffic, will be vetted though the approval process.  This will include public hearings with public input.  At the conclusion of this process, the permit for the project will either be approved or denied. 

Others express a worry about real estate taxes.  If approved, the project will pay real estate taxes.  Moreover, a senior project would have a much smaller impact on the budget than a family-oriented project.

Affordable housing development provides quality housing for households with limited means, a worthy goal and an especially worthy goal for the many senior households who rely solely on Social Security income.

The project would also satisfy another important goal, the so-called 10% goal, which if reached, would prevent future adverse 40-B developments, and a number of significant properties in Wenham are vulnerable to adverse 40-B development.  The Burley Street development is a perfect example of what could happen again if we don’t reach this goal.  This 20-unit condominium project on 7.2 acres of land was denied a comprehensive permit by the ZBA.  The developer appealed the decision to the state and, after an extensive legal battle with the town, the developer prevailed and built the project.  If 10% of Wenham’s housing were affordable at the time, the ZBA’s decision could not have been appealed. 

Another common theme I hear is that WAHT funds are tax dollars that could be put to other more important uses.  First, the Trust was not funded with tax dollars at all.   The money in the fund came from contributions by two real estate developments (The Boulders and The Maples) and a 10% allocation of CPA funds that by statute must be used for affordable housing.  The money in the WAHT is there now and cannot be used for anything but the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Wenham.

I also hear people talk about the process not being transparent.  I am not quite sure how much more transparent the events that have occurred thus far could be.  Every meeting of the Affordable Housing Trust is an open and public meeting where we invite comments from any and all members of the public present.  Agendas are posted in advance of all meetings and any decision to use the Trust’s funds must be approved by the Board of Selectmen in a second public process, usually with televised public meetings.  The WAHT Trustees are volunteers with no agenda other than the protection and improvement of Wenham.  

If through its process the ZBA grants the Maple Street a comprehensive permit, I see no better use for the Trust’s money.  The developer will have worked in good faith with the Town to create an affordable housing project for seniors in keeping with the regulations and character of the town.  And, the project will prevent the possibility of adverse 40-B projects far into the future.

Joshua Anderson, Chairperson
Wenham Affordable Housing Trust Fund