The Town of Northborough Community Preservation Committee on Jan. 2 discussed a returning application for an affordable housing project (referred to in materials as the Village Drive project) and asked staff and the project sponsor to consider a contingency and additional local‑preference measures.

A housing authority representative who spoke at the meeting described updated waiting‑list figures and how eligibility is managed. He said the Commonwealth uses the CHAMP system for ranking and that local preference and site‑specific lists are commonly used for new buildings: “We use a CHAMP system... when they get somewhere near the top of the list, then they're asked to upload additional information,” the presenter said, describing how applicants are screened and the potential to create a building‑specific list to prioritize local residents.

The presenter also described supply‑chain and equipment backlogs that can delay systems such as HVAC and split electrical units and said: “as soon as we get any kind of a green light, we would automatically order all of that type of equipment because, you know, you try to get it in the pipeline.” Committee members recommended building a contingency into the project budget — several members cited 10% as an appropriate cushion — and noted that unused contingency would roll back into CPC reserves.

Committee members emphasized local preference for some units, asked whether the housing authority would be the project owner and whether modular construction would affect prevailing‑wage calculations, and sought confirmation that first‑floor units would be accessible. The presenter said the first floor will be handicap accessible and that modular sections still trigger prevailing wage for assembly at the site.

No formal CPC vote was recorded at the Jan. 2 meeting. Members asked applicants and staff to refine budgets to show any requested contingency, to document the housing authority’s role in ownership/operation, and to confirm how local preference will be administered on any new unit list. The committee also noted the affordable housing reserve balance and signaled support for using those funds toward the project if the application meets CPC guidelines.