Trust gets progress reports on Beach Street egress, High Street environmental work and 3 Baylor timeline

The Affordable Housing Trust on Feb. 14 discussed several development-site updates.

Beach Street / Westborough Country Villages: Trust members said the management company for Westborough Country Villages (an LLC managing the Beach Street property) is reluctant to grant a right-of-way because it cannot lose parking spaces tied to HUD regulatory agreements and mortgage-guarantor constraints. Members said negotiations will be lengthy; next steps include meeting with the fire chief, obtaining engineering input on mitigation and egress options, and preparing footprints engineers can test for feasibility. Staff indicated test-pit data are in the Trust packet and a level-1 environmental review is under way for both Beach Street and High Street sites.

3 Baylor and LIP/LAU questions: Members reported developer Marco Hagen has paid fees and submitted initial materials and provided a rough timeline (construction starting in April, about six months). The Trust asked staff to obtain copies of materials submitted to the Local Initiative Program (LIP) and to verify whether the project will qualify as a Local Action Unit (LAU). The Trust also discussed lender requests for automatic assignment language on 25 Connector Road and similar changes; counsel is reviewing protective wording to preserve the Trust’s subsidy conditions if a lender takes control.

Members discussed outreach and marketing for lotteries and agreed that the Trust should host marketing events locally rather than relying solely on developer offices outside town. Staff will request LIP materials and the marketing plan from the developer and return with recommendations for lottery administration and regulatory compliance.

Quote: "They can't afford to lose parking spaces," a Trust member said, describing why the management company was reluctant to consider changes to the Beach Street parking that would enable a right-of-way.