Select Board defers decision on land transfer for Millis Housing Authority after lengthy public comment

The Millis Select Board on April 6 removed a planned warrant article to transfer town‑owned land to the Millis Housing Authority and deferred any final decision to the November town meeting after extended public comment and legal guidance from town counsel.

Town Counsel Jay explained the likely permitting path — a Chapter 40B comprehensive permit — and told the board that town meeting can authorize a conveyance that remains contingent on permitting and other conditions. Jay said the process typically includes months of public hearings and technical review, and can include negotiated measures the town may ask for before conveyance occurs.

Dozens of residents spoke during an extended public comment period that lasted into the second half of the meeting. Andrew Manning of 12 J William Heights said the town already has a pipeline of 40B projects and asked why the town was not pursuing a Safe Harbor strategy to regain local leverage. "If all those projects go forward, that's going to put us at a 10.2% SHI," Manning said, referring to the subsidized‑housing inventory calculation.

Others raised concerns about sewer capacity, wetlands and traffic. Pete Germaine, of 21 Causeway Street, asked who would pay for increased municipal services such as police and DPW and whether infrastructure upgrades would become the town’s responsibility. "Who's going to contribute to that base and what's the net cost to the town?" he asked.

Residents pressed alternative sites and financing options. Several speakers urged the board to investigate brownfield parcels such as GAF/Ann & Hope; the board and staff said those properties are privately owned and would carry substantial acquisition and remediation costs.

Millis Housing Authority representative Carol Baker said the authority intends to create deeply affordable units — including senior and disabled housing — and acknowledged the authority had requested a postponement to allow more community outreach. Baker said the authority would prepare an RFP and intends to work closely with the town and state agencies on design and tenant selection policy.

Chair Erin Underh Hill told the room she remains committed to expanding affordable housing in Millis but said the board had heard “a lot more than we did two weeks ago” and that additional public engagement and technical review were needed. The board then voted to remove Article 12 (the land transfer) from the May warrant; the motion carried unanimously.

What happens next: Select Board members and housing‑authority officials said they will hold additional community forums this spring (the housing authority scheduled two public sessions), continue technical reviews (sewer, wetlands), and return with a refined plan in time for the fall/November town meeting, when voters would decide whether to authorize a conditional conveyance.

The board emphasized that any conveyance would include legal conditions and permitting contingencies and that the town would not transfer land until required permits and project eligibility were in place.

Officials' next steps include: a series of public forums hosted by the Millis Housing Authority (scheduled April 8 and April 15), further sewer‑capacity analysis in cooperation with enterprise staff and the Enterprise Advisory Committee, and continued legal drafting in coordination with town counsel.

Ending note: The Select Board’s vote removed the item from the May warrant but left the broader housing question active: under the timetable described by counsel it could return to voters in the fall after further study and community engagement.