Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership

Easthampton Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership March 28, 2024 Members present: Janna Tetreault (chair), Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid, Jackie Brousseau- Pereira, Lindsey Rothschild, and Donna Cuipylo Absent: Shira Simon Guests: Jamie Webb, Cathy Wauczinski, Yoshi Bird, Councilor Koni Denham, Jessica Allan Meeting called to order at 6:35pm 1. Approve February meeting notes – minutes were not ready in time for the meeting, so members agreed to approve them next month 2. Welcome new members Donna Cuipylo and Lindsey Rothschild. 3. Town Lodging community concerns – more information for the community would be helpful to dispel misinformation about the project and to allow communication with residents around any plans that may come up. The first stage of this project is a CDBG proposal that will fund a predevelopment plan. CDBG application was submitted on Monday morning and we should hear in July. Valley CDC still has to go through permitting project. Guest CW expressed concerns about the project. Jessica Allan spoke about Valley CDC’s willingness to do a public meeting. She also spoke about clearing up misinformation. 4. Continued discussion of potential zoning amendments/review of current zoning Member Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid presented recommendations for zoning lot sizes and what is permitted by right. Suggestions included: A. Duplexes by right throughout the City B. Conversions from single-family to duplex permitted by right C. Allow for convenience markets by special permit Kiam and Ben created a presentation showing dimensional regulations by neighborhood. Most of our current housing doesn’t meet our zoning. Look at a proposal that brings our zoning closer to our current housing and then think about where it might be denser.  Chair Tetreault spoke about the 19 instances where terms such as community/residential character are used in the zoning code. Members discussed whether we would recommend removing the language or clarifying it. A few examples:  In section 7.4 Smart Growth Zoning, the language uses the term “consistent with Easthampton’s neighborhoods.” This language is vague.  In Section 8.6 Planned Unit Development for affordable housing, the term used is “rural small town character” which is specific and descriptive. Members discussed the language, noting that it is subjective and can be used to perpetuate whiteness and privilege. This opens the door to objections by residents who can say that a project doesn’t fit the character of the neighborhood. Member Rothschild asked whether such language helps in decision making for various projects that need a special permit. Jessica Allan from Valley CDC helped clarify the process. In decisions that are drafted, the regulating body must assert findings for each of the pieces of the zoning. For example, in an affordable housing project, there should be enough units to make a development financially viable. This likely won’t fit the community character. There was a suggestion to change language to say “fits the nature of the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood.” Members asked Ms. Allan, from a developer’s perspective, what would be helpful to change in the zoning. She suggested looking at existing parking regulations, margins for storm water runoff, and flexibility on height restrictions. She also spoke about using “form based code (massing and density) rather than specific types of use. Members suggested crafting a presentation for City Council when we bring forward the recommended zoning changes. 5. Other items a. Northampton Housing Partnership requested a joint meeting with Easthampton Housing Partnership. Chair Janna Tetreault is waiting for a response to set this up. b. 385 Main St – The developer has sent the applications to the state. Once they are approved, they will submit their 40B permit. Chair Tetreault believes that TCB needs to have the permit set by end of June. They need site plan approval so they can apply for the permit. Next meeting 6pm on Thursday, April 25 Meeting adjourned at 7:34pm Respectfully submitted, Jackie Brousseau-Pereira