Proposed higher density housing bylaw draws mixed reaction
From left: Planning Board Chair Thomas Tucker, Town Planner Victoria Alfaro and Planning Board members Nathan Ketchel and Karen Field at the Monday, Aug. 17 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
From left: Planning Board Chair Thomas Tucker, Town Planner Victoria Alfaro and Planning Board members Nathan Ketchel and Karen Field at the Monday, Aug. 17 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
MATTAPOISETT — Residents are split on a proposed bylaw aimed at creating lower-cost, high-density housing along Route 6.
The Planning Board held a public hearing for a Cottage Community Development bylaw at its Monday, Aug. 17 meeting to gather feedback and questions on the proposal.
The board has tried to pass the bylaw several times, including at Spring Town Meeting, but it has been voted down.
The bylaw would allow for housing developments to contain multiple detached homes that share a central green space on the Route 6 corridor from the Fairhaven to Marion town lines.
These smaller, less expensive homes would be aimed toward drawing young families looking for a first house or older adults who want to downsize.
Several residents said during the meeting they were concerned the bylaw wouldn’t increase the town’s affordable housing stock, and called for the Planning Board to take more steps to encourage the construction of affordable units.
Resident Elizabeth DiCarlo said if there is development in Mattapoisett, it should benefit the community as well.
“I would hope that the Planning Board would look at what it means, not just for a developer to come in and do whatever he or she wishes, but for a developer to work with the community to be able to have an increase of the affordability in our community,” she said.
While the proposed bylaw does mention affordable housing, Planning Board Chair Thomas Tucker said it was intended to mean comparatively more affordable instead of falling under the state’s definition.
He said if a house built as part of a cottage cluster sells for $500,000 it might not qualify as affordable housing by state standards, but is much less expensive than the cost of an average house in town.
“When we did put that language in, we shouldn't have put ‘affordable,’” Tucker said. “We were just trying to reduce the price, so it would be easier for an elderly couple or a young couple just starting out in this town.”
Resident Colin LaBrie said he supports the bylaw, especially as the father of three young children.
He said he is in favor of encouraging less-expensive housing that could encourage younger families to move to town, as he worries there will be fewer children without accessible housing prices.
“My concern is that the way it's going with average house price, where we're almost looking at an end to a way of life,” LaBrie said. “Anything that could help that situation would be much appreciated and supported by the younger families in town."
