Great Barrington — After working on a formal letter to the Select Board and Affordable Housing Trust for several meetings, the Planning Board has approved a letter about what it sees as a housing deficiency.
The letter, drafted during its August 11 meeting, suggests that town officials review strategies to encourage year-round housing units throughout town.
“Typically our work focuses on planning and zoning strategies,” the board states in their letter. “However, there are also financial incentives that can be effective. While these may require a significant amount of direct funding or deferred revenue, these programs have a variety of benefits, not the least of which would be creating new homes on a scattered site basis in the short term rather than waiting a decade or two for another large 40-unit site delivered at an extraordinary cost.”
The board urged town officials to look at the potential strategies as soon as possible and that while some strategies may require consultation with the Assessor’s office, other strategies might have to be approved by a town meeting.
The first strategy suggested by the board is for the town to consider a program that would make the creation of accessory dwelling units easier.
“This may involve pre-permitting certain designs, reducing permit and utility connection fees, and even working with a consultant to identify which properties have the characteristics—such as utilities, space, topography, density—where an ADU would be possible,” the board states in their letter.
The board additionally asks that town officials consider a tax incentive for landlords who rent housing units at an affordable level and long term basis.
“Also consider exempting or deferring the increased property value caused by the addition of a dwelling unit if the additional unit is rented at affordable levels or on other terms that provide a community benefit,” the board states in their letter. “Since creating new housing from scratch can be expensive, consider ways to keep existing units affordable and in good repair. Strategies could include providing stipends or grants to landlords who pledge to keep rent below a designated level. The town could also consider ‘buying out’ units that are rented on a short term basis so they are rented on a long term basis instead.”
The board further suggested that the town buy affordable housing restrictions to “preserve existing housing, thereby providing funds to homeowners on an immediate basis, in return for a unit that remains affordable for the long term.”
The board added in its letter that “some of these programs may require funding to hire staff, or qualified contractors, to implement and monitor.”
At the meeting, the board discussed the possibility of adding additional suggestions or ideas to the letter.
Eventually, however, the board decided against adding to the letter.
