FOSTER -- The Town Council voted last night to establish an affordable housing board to deal with an issue that was forced upon towns in recent months.
Changes to state law and goals of how much housing should be affordable have left many towns to consider how affordable housing could fit into communities.
The five members of the new board will assist the Planning Board in overseeing the town's affordable housing plan. They will monitor the affordable housing stock in town and measure it against state goals.
The only obstacle for the board is the uncertain statue of the state's affordable housing laws. Changes to affordable housing law in 2002 sent a flood of applications from private developers seeking to take advantage of incentives under the law. A moratorium on those changes was passed in January, leaving towns unsure of their future guidelines.
"We're not even sure what the issue's going to be in a few months," said Councilman Peter Baribault. "But we need to protect the town from the future encroachment of builders."
Foster did not receive any affordable housing applications under the new rules. It's current affordable housing stock is about 2.3 percent, according to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation.
The state has set a goal that towns have a minimum of 10 percent of its housing be affordable.
After some debate, council members also decided the grant writer for affordable housing-related issues could search for grants that include a stipend for the writer.
The council also passed a resolution to seek an affordable housing grant from Rhode Island Housing.
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