A proposal to explore building affordable housing on a town-owned parcel at the end of Evergreen Lane drew a crowd of nearly 20 residents to the Affordable Housing Steering Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, with many voicing strong opposition due to environmental concerns. Resident Adam Stole, representing a group of citizens, presented a letter and a digital petition with approximately 185 signatures urging the town to place the land under a conservation restriction to protect the sensitive Lily Pond watershed and Peppermint Brook. “Our concern and what we really want to make sure we overindex on is the concern to the waterways, to Peppermint Brook, to Cohasset’s water supply,” Stole said, questioning why the committee was focused on that specific location.

Select Board Representative Paul Grady, chairing the meeting, explained that the committee’s role is to identify potentially buildable town-owned land to help Cohasset meet its state-mandated 10% affordable housing stock goal ahead of the 2030 census. He emphasized that the process for the Evergreen Lane parcel was in its infancy, involving only a preliminary site walk. “Our initial thought was is there an opportunity to build two or three homes back here and that was kind of the extent of it,” Grady explained. Committee member Cindy Matheison reassured residents that no decisions had been made. “We understand your concerns... but honestly, we're just like dunking a toe in the water here,” she stated. “It doesn't necessarily mean there is going to be affordable housing there.” Another resident also urged caution, stating, "I don't want to jump the gun... what I don't want to do is for my kids or my grandkids to look back and say, 'We gave up all of our town land. We don't have anymore.'"

In response to the public feedback, the committee agreed to broaden its scope beyond the small Evergreen Lane section to include a larger, contiguous 14-acre parcel behind the Osgood School and the South Shore Music Circus. Committee member Gene Pesci acknowledged the value of the residents’ input, reflecting, “Sometimes there's a reason why these things are still open at this stage of the town's development that, you know, its best use is as an open piece of land. So that's what we'll figure out.” Grady said the committee would consult with the Select Board and the Planning Department to determine the proper steps for evaluating the entire property.

In other business, Town Planner Cassandra Thayer delivered positive news regarding One Pleasant Street, reporting that the owners plan to ask the Planning Board to revert the property’s 14 units from condominiums back to rentals. The change would allow all 14 units, instead of just a fraction, to be counted toward the town’s affordable housing inventory. The committee also celebrated the recent completion of a two-family home at 808 Jerusalem Road, a successful partnership with Habitat for Humanity on formerly town-owned land. Later in the meeting, a motion was made by Gene Pesci to approve the minutes from the last meeting. The motion passed 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.