To the editor:
As the chair of the Town of Great Barrington Planning Board, it is necessary that I set the record straight regarding Mr. Most‘s commentary published in The Edge. He wrote regarding initiatives the Town should consider passing at town meeting, and suggested the Planning Board is considering a proposal to eliminate single-family zoning. in the interest of expanding housing development.
To be clear, the Planning Board has been working for several years to increase housing opportunities and encourage a variety of housing types. We are very focused on removing barriers to good development. Our past zoning proposals, approved at Town Meeting, have included adding accessory dwelling units, allowing tiny homes, changing two and three family homes to by-right development, and adding Smart growth overlay districts to three areas within the town. There is more work to be done, and we are focused on doing that work within the context of sustainable and responsible growth in the community. However, we still believe in the necessity for underlying zoning to guide development patterns within our community.
We are currently considering a number of proposals to incentivize of a variety housing types. We will be meeting with the Select Board and continuing discussions at the Planning Board in the coming weeks. The public is always invited to attend these meetings, to make comments at citizen speak time, and to reach out to Planning Board members individually with innovative ideas that can help provide housing in our community for all the people that want to live and work here.
Brandee Nelson
Great Barrington
