1. Vice Chair Jan Ackerman reported that on September 17, for the third time, AHT will present its proposed housing plan to the Planning Board (PB) for consideration. This step is required by law. It was first presented months ago. After it is presented, Ackerman hopes the PB will take a vote to approve/disapprove.
2. Parts of the Affordable Home Act, recently passed by the state, will affect local zoning, particularly the following parts: Accessory Dwelling Units, Short Term Rentals, Tiny Homes on Tiny Lots, and Stockbridge’s new designation as a “Resort” also called a seasonal community. AHT member Patrick White expressed a sense of urgency in addressing these matters.
3. White said, since the measures will go into effect in February, he suggested a Special Town Meeting otherwise there would be a gap which White called “the wild west” when the state law would be in effect, but any mitigating local bylaws would not be.
4. Chair Ranne Warner expressed understanding that local governments would have few options — state law would supersede — and postponed discussion until following meeting
5. The Chair expressed support for Dawn Odell Lemon, Manager, Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG). It funds the Housing Rehabilitation programs — repairs of homes when the owner/occupant qualifies economically. AHT discussed ways to alert eligible Stockbridge homeowners that money is available.
6. Chair requested a motion to approve an additional $5000 to complete the land survey on the Glendale Middle Road property. Passed.
7. Chair announced that the playground at Pine Woods is complete and AHT received a thank-you note from the children.
8. At a reduced rate of $150/hour, the Trust voted to approve the services of Kathleen O’Donnell, an attorney with a specialty in housing.
9. Approved $7900 for DPC (engineers) to do an analysis of requirements and costs for a 60- bedroom development. One member questioned spending all this money for a development AHT does not have the money to build. Another questioned the number of bedrooms and asked if they needed another analysis, if the number of bedrooms increases or decreases. The answer was yes, but the costs associated are cheaper and easier to analyze when you go down in number of bedrooms. The motion to spend the $7900 was made and passed
10. Eileen Peltier, CEO, Hearthway (present) and also a representative from Mass Housing Partnership (not present) will serve as consultants to AHT.
11. The discussion of development of Glendale Middle Road was wide-ranging. Ownership or rental? Rent with option to buy? Attached units or single-family units? At what price point can a buyer afford the unit? If the sale has to be subsidized, where is there money to do it?
Every decision will impact density and the character of the community.
12. There is a major developer in nearby Lenox — Penrose. They will complete 65 units on Route 7 at Brushwood Farms. One AHT member is in discussion with them.
13. Stockbridge, which is 60% seasonal residents, is automatically a resort community according to the new state definition. That designation and what it allows could change the housing picture and fill some of the housing needs, because as a resort community, things are possible that were not previously allowed. For example, tiny homes on tiny lots.
14. This was intended as a discussion meeting and no further decisions were made. Adjourned
Editor’s note: 1. On July 25, 2024, Governor Maura Healey announced that the towns of Lenox and Lee received $1,000,000 in CDBG funds, while the Town of Great Barrington (including Egremont and Stockbridge) received $1,375,000. 2. AHT did not state how many units make a 60-bedroom development.
