Rockport affordable housing trust hits $1 million, eyes tiny houses

Rockport's Affordable Housing Trust now has more than $1 million for housing that working people and seniors can afford, members said Wednesday.

The trust is a town board that holds money for affordable housing and looks for ways to build it. It met on Zoom on Oct. 14. Members also talked about new state rules for tiny houses, a water bill problem for affordable apartments and a search for town land to build on.

Where the money stands

Vice Chair Ken Kaiser gave the August report. The trust has spent a little over $105,000 so far. Its money from the town's Community Preservation Committee, $238,000, arrived earlier than usual. That committee spends a local property tax surcharge and state matching money on housing, open space and history.

A gift of $8,664 is also coming. It is from the Rockport Housing Partnership, an older group that is closing. With that gift, the trust will have about $1,048,000.

Chair Diane Vella said it was "pretty exciting that we went over the million dollar mark."

What the trust wants from tiny house rules

Rockport is one of the state's seasonal communities. Member Bob Simmons, who also sits on the Planning Board, said that means the town must write new zoning for tiny houses and small lots. He said the state's model rules allow houses up to 400 square feet. They let the town set an income limit for the people who live in them, as high as 250% of the area's median income.

Vella said that cap is far too high. She said the town's housing plan shows the biggest needs are homes for families and for seniors with disabilities.

Vella wants the tiny houses to count on the state's list of affordable homes. Rockport is below the state's 10% goal. Below that line, a developer can use a state law called 40B to skip some local zoning rules. Kaiser said a cap of 80% of median income or lower would give the town the most room. The trust did not vote.

Water bills for affordable apartments

Vella said new water rates hit affordable rentals hard because their rents are capped. Pigeon Cove Ledges has one meter for 30 apartments. Kaiser said that means each unit could use only about 300 gallons a quarter to stay in the lowest price tier. "It's just absurd," he said. The trust hopes to meet with the property's operator and town officials.

Also at the meeting:

• Town staff found four town properties that might work for housing. Kaiser said some have wetlands or sit near the railroad.
• Kaiser and Vella ran a booth on two Saturdays at the Rockport Exchange, a market that gives free space to nonprofits and town groups. Kaiser said most Rockport visitors had never heard of the trust.
• The trust approved its Sept. 9 minutes, 3 to 0. Member Laura Evans was absent.

How you can take part: Trust meetings are on Zoom, with the link and a call in number on the agenda on the town website. Each meeting ends with public comment. The Dec. 5 annual meeting is in person only, and the trust wants residents to come.

Related: Rockport planners say state's 10,000 square foot lots are not tiny (Oct. 17).

How we did this: Cape Ann Current watched the meeting online and checked names against the agenda and the board's roster. This story was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the documents listed below. If you see an error, tell us at [email protected].