Mark Mills, AHT member, announced the offer made by Kate and Hans Morris of 34 wooded acres on Glendale Middle Road. The land has 80 feet of frontage. Hans Morris attended with his attorney, Nick Arienti, and expressed his desire that the land be used to build affordable housing.

Although the village reached the Commonwealth’s required 10% affordable housing long ago, still it is hoped that a developer would be allowed to benefit from the favorable zoning granted builders of affordable housing under Chapter 40B. That would mean, for example, that although the land is zoned one acre, 1/2 acre lots or even 1/4 acre lots could be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

AHT member Patrick White thanked Hans and Kate and called it “an incredible opportunity.” Prior to this gift, AHT only had a single grant from the Community Preservation Committee although it does have possibilities for income from the Residential Inclusionary Bylaw recently passed by the Select Board. The RIB asks builders of luxury housing to either build a percent of affordable housing or contribute to AHT so they can use the money to build affordable housing. 

The Housing Production Plan, soon to be completed by AHT and their consultant, will most likely determine Stockbridge’s pressing need is for “work force” housing more than affordable housing.