Salem Planning Board Discusses Affordable Units in Senior Housing Projects

At its Dec. 23 meeting, the Salem Planning Board discussed a proposal to require senior housing projects to make 20 percent of their available units affordable housing for seniors.

The proposal came from subcommittee set up by Chairman Edward DeClercq to review the affordable senior housing requirement, which currently states developers must set aside 10 percent of their development to affordable housing.

When Chairman DeClercq asked for public input on the proposal, resident Kurt Meisner rejected the idea. Meisner, who represented several developers in the area, said lowering the prices of some units would push up the prices of others.

The Planning Board voted unanimously not to move the proposal to ballot.

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