- Chair Bill Vogt opened the meeting and expressed the ground rules. The two consultants would present their programs, questions should be written in the “Chat” function. PB would get to as many questions as possible. Unanswered questioned could be emailed to PB on Town web site. Vogt introduced PB members and then Vice Chair Christine Rasmussen
- Rasmussen introduced the two consultants Randall Arendt and Jeff Lacy. Arendt is author of Conservation Subdivision Design, “an approach to laying out subdivisions so that some land is permanently protected”. Jeff Lacy is developer of NRPZ (Natural Resource Protection Zoning). Both use fixed ratios to preserve land in subdivisions.
- Questions followed. Here is a sampling: “Stockbridge is unique and admired, what is sudden need for extreme change? How will it keep Stockbridge, Stockbridge? Randall Arendt’s illustrations seem to reflect large community development; how does it apply to Stockbridge? What is the justification for the PB to allow building in excess of base number of units? How is this better than our current 2-and-4-acre zoning? Stockbridge has a cluster housing bylaw, how is this better? Why were the percentages lowered in this draft from the 80% preserved in 4-acre zoning areas and 60% preserved in 2-acre zoning areas in last draft? Massachusetts recommends 90% preserved, why would Stockbridge go lower? Can the developer be asked to provide a cost/benefit analysis of development? The cost of enhanced infrastructure, more police, fire, etc) compared to benefits (taxes and jobs)? What is impact on population and town services from all this development? If in a 20-acre lot, 2- and 4-acre zoning allows 5 — 10 houses and so does NRPZ, why do we need NRPZ? Is low-income housing in this? Anything to lure young buyers?”
- Vogt closed the meeting with a plea for support for the Warrant Article granting $40,000 for the continued services of these consultants.
Meeting adjourned
Editor’s questions: (a) Was there an understanding of the necessity for this zoning change? (b) SU has asked before, are the recommended zoning changes Stockbridge-specific? The answer seemed to come when Lacy was asked if the ANR (Approval not required) applied to Elm Court, and he responded, “I wouldn’t know Elm Court if I tripped over it.” (c) When and by what process was the percentage of preserved land changed? Open Meeting Law requires it be done in public view; was it? (d) It was not clear that either consultant has been to Stockbridge or that these proposals are tailored for our village. (e) It was not made explicit what problem was being addressed by the proposed zoning change, the need for change, or the goal. Those are the tasks for our PB to do first and not a consultant. So, for an additional $40,000, what would the consultants do?
