Inter-municipal affordable housing agreement on table

MILLBROOK — Affordable housing was on the agenda during the Village Board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Village Hall.Mayor Laura Hurley recently had a discussion with Village and Town Attorneys Audrey Scout and John Gifford about affordable housing and if it’s possible to have an inter-municipal agreement between Millbrook and Washington regarding affordable housing and how it effects the town of Washington’s comprehensive plan and the village of Millbrook. Hurley said she has been doing research and compiling a lot of housing information from sub-committee reports and information that the town has brought together. Every village parcel is on a spreadsheet that the village contracts according to occupancy. The Village Board plans to discuss this further during the Tuesday, Feb. 26, meeting where both the village and town boards will be present. The village has traditionally been the residential and business center of the town. Hurley said she wouldn’t be comfortable saying that the village is the only place that accepts future growth nor does she think the residents of the village would agree. However, Hurley said the village needs to acknowledge where it stands as far as affordable housing goes.“There is controversy in this whole affordable housing issue,” said Hurley. “Does the town need something separate? Can the village accept responsibility? There are different opinions on that and we will work through it as best we can as we move forward.”Hurley said it’s vital to keep water sources protected, just as it is to make sure concrete plans result from the process of updating affordable housing plans.“It’s wonderful to have ideas and these road maps, but we need actual accomplishments and agreements in place, especially inter-municipal agreements,” said Hurley.Scout said that general municipal law allows for towns and villages to enter into inter-municipal agreements regarding comprehensive planning and zoning. Trustee Joseph Spagnola asked Hurley what she meant by stating that the village accepts responsibility for affordable housing.“What I meant to say was to acknowledge that historically we have been the residential center of the town and we are capable of continuing as such,” said Hurley. “We are who we are and I am not saying that it means we should expand and have more growth.”Hurley said she believes that there are affordable housing options in the town that people forget about. An attendee of the meeting suggested having a definition of affordable housing that both boards agree on. It was also suggested that definition be made public before the meeting on Feb. 26, so that everyone is on the same page. Hurley agreed that would be a good idea, and said once there’s a definition she would be happy to make it public.