[Amended 6-2-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-59; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-153; 6-3-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-62]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this contract zone is to allow for the construction of a multi-phase project with affordable housing for older persons on East Bridge Street as located on the City of Westbrook Zoning Map.
B.
Conditions.
(1)
The rear portion of the property shall be subject to a trail easement held by the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, as may be amended from time to time.
(2)
Up to 210 dwelling units may be constructed within Contract Zone #1 and are allocated based on phasing as stated in this section.
(3)
Payment in lieu of taxes. So long as any one phase may be treated for tax purposes as owned and operated by Westbrook Housing Authority or its affiliated 501(c)(3) corporation, Westbrook Development Corporation, or any other entity eligible for an exemption from property taxes, then the property owner of said phase shall be obligated to make payments in lieu of taxes as follows:
(a)
Phase I. The Phase I property shall pay to the City of Westbrook each year a sum in lieu of real property taxes of $20,000 to cover the cost of providing necessary municipal services to Phase I.
[1]
The amount of the sum in lieu of taxes paid for Phase I shall increase by 2% annually, commencing July 1, 2023, whether or not a payment in lieu of taxes arrangement is then in place, so that when such arrangement is in place the sum due shall be based upon the increases since July 1, 2023.
(b)
Phase II shall pay to the City of Westbrook each year a sum in lieu of real property taxes of $20,000 to cover the cost of providing necessary municipal services to Phase II.
[1]
The amount of the sum in lieu of taxes paid for Phase II shall increase by 2% annually, commencing with the third fiscal year after Phase II has been placed in service.
(c)
Phase III. Beginning with the tax year beginning on April 1 following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for Phase III, Phase III shall pay to the City of Westbrook each year a sum in lieu of real property taxes of $20,000 to cover the cost of providing necessary municipal services to Phase III.
[1]
The amount of the sum in lieu of taxes paid for Phase III shall increase by 2% annually, commencing with the third fiscal year after Phase III has been placed in service.
(d)
Phase IV. Beginning with the tax year beginning on April 1 following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for Phase IV, Phase IV shall pay to the City of Westbrook each year a sum in lieu of real property taxes of $20,000 to cover the cost of providing necessary municipal services to Phase IV.
[1]
The amount of the sum in lieu of taxes paid for Phase IV shall increase by 2% annually, commencing with the third fiscal year after Phase IV has been placed in service.
(e)
The obligation to make payments in lieu of taxes shall not apply to Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, or Phase IV at any time when a tax increment financing credit enhancement agreement is in effect for such phase.
C.
Phasing.
(1)
The following phases within the Millbrook Contract Zone are generally described as follows:
(a)
Phase I: Phase I contains no more than 100 units of one-bedroom apartments, all of which are to be occupied by qualified older persons as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act) and is known as Millbrook Estates ("Phase I").
(b)
Phase II: Phase II contains 38 units of affordable housing for qualified older persons (as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act) located adjacent to Phase I and is known as Malcolm A. Noyes Apartments ("Phase II").
(c)
Phase III and Phase IV. Phase III and Phase IV collectively contain up to 72 units of affordable housing for older persons as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act. located on lots created between Phase I and East Bridge Street ("Phase III and IV").
D.
Performance standards. The requirements of the underlying district shall apply except as follows:
(1)
Dimensional requirements.
(a)
Minimum lot frontage: 50 feet.
(b)
Setbacks:
[1]
There shall be no setback required from any internal property line of Contract Zone #1 dividing Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, or Phase IV. Structures located on Phase I and II may be physically connected with an enclosed corridor and benefitted by easements for pedestrian passage between Phase I and II.
[2]
Front setback: 10 feet from East Bridge Street.
(2)
The maximum footprint factor, maximum gross density factor, and landscape factor of the underlying district shall be determined based on the total land area within the contract zone.
(3)
Residential density factor: There shall be no maximum net residential density factor for any one lot within Contract Zone #1, provided that there shall not be more than 210 dwelling units within the entire Contract Zone #1.
(4)
Off-street parking: 0.85 parking space per residential unit for the entire Contract Zone #1 area.
(5)
Except for curb cuts for driveways reviewed and approved by the City, sidewalks shall be maintained along both sides of the driveway entrance off East Bridge Street.
E.
Affordability covenant. This project shall be subject to a long-term restrictive covenant that shall be recorded in the registry of deeds and that shall be binding on successors and assigns of the project, to be held and enforced by Maine State Housing Authority ("MaineHousing"), or its successor, requiring that the project remain a low- to moderate-income housing for older persons project (the "affordability covenant") for the following terms:
(1)
For Phase I, for a term of not less than 120 years from November 1, 1991; and
(2)
For Phase II for a term of not less than 45 years from July 1, 2017.
(3)
For Phase III and IV, for a term of not less than 45 years from January 1, 2025.
(4)
For purposes of this covenant, the term "low income" shall mean that the project shall be occupied by and affordable to individuals whose income does not exceed 60% of area median income as determined and administered by MaineHousing in accordance with its rules and requirements and the term "moderate income" shall mean that the project shall be occupied by and be affordable to individuals whose income does not exceed 120% of area median income as determined and administered by MaineHousing in accordance with its applicable rules and requirements.
(5)
Not less than 60% of the units in Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and IV shall be low-income units.
(6)
The affordability restrictions contained in this section shall not apply to transfers resulting from the foreclosure of a mortgage upon the project held by a financial institution, governmental agency, or public instrumentality, including, without limitation, MaineHousing, or from a deed in lieu of foreclosure from such a mortgage holder.