City Council - Ordinance Committee

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL Easthampton Municipal Building 50 Payson Ave., Ste. 100 Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027-2260 Telephone #: (413) 529-1400, ext. 460 Fax #: (413) 529-1417 Meeting Minutes Committee Title: Ordinance Committee Location: Conference Room 1 Date: March 11, 2025 Call to Order: 5 pm Attendance: Councilor Derby, Councilor Denham, Planning Department staff – Allyson Manuel, Dillon Maxfield Agenda Items: 1. Public Speak - Concern about Battery Storage Facility in Westfield - Concern that ADU are not allowed in ordinance - Purpose of STR is also a benefit to the city - Two-family owner occupied - Concern about cost of violations - Will inspections be done in a timely manner. Flexible schedule based on busy seasons - Questions about the definition of ADUs - What will be the complaint review process look like. Checks and balance process – advisory board to review concerns. - Request for quick action to address the cease-and-desist letter. - Housing costs increase and affordability within a community decreases with communities with more STR. 2. Short Term Rental Ordinance Discussion: Introduction of Council STR Ordinance – Councilor Derby. Introduction of City STR Ordinance. Discussion about the STR ordinance in the general ordinances and/or within the zoning ordinances. Limit of non-owner occupied – 4 stays per month. Suggested STR Cap of 50 would equal ½ of 1% of housing. Cap safeguards for permanent residents. Advantage that it prevents clustering of STR. ADU as an owner-occupied model. Allows for multigenerational housing. Residents have expressed concerns to city  departments about unknown people coming and going from residents. Concern about the fear of outsiders. Motion/Vote – No motion taken – Continuation of discussion 3. Review of Special Municipal Employee Status for volunteer members of city committees, boards, and commissions. Discussion: Update the list of Special Municipal Employee for volunteer committees. Motion/Vote: Motion to assign Special Municipal Employee status to volunteer members of committees, boards, and commissions. Vote 2-0 to send to full council 4. Shrubbery Ordinance Discussion: Update about discussion with DPW Director and City Engineer to edit language of ordinance to remove distance requirement of 25 feet given many properties have non-conforming plot lines. Motion/Vote: Motion to send the updated language to the City Solicitor. Vote 2-0. Action Items: No Action Items Other Notes or Documentation: Adjournment: No Adjournment as meeting continued to the next topic.