Housing Greenfield Meeting Notes – 09/09/2024

Present: Susan Worgaftik, Peg Hall, Chuck Green, Amy Clarke, Anna Oltman, Alyssa Larose, Joannah Whitney, Shaundell Diaz, Charity Day, Amy Cahillane, Jessa McCormack, Mitchell Speight, Joan Marie Jackson, Ella Condon, Mike Penn-Strah, Louise Amyot, Wisty Rorabacher, Mary McClintock, Al Norman, Nikki Garrett, John Garrett, Rachel Gordon, Judy Draper, Edie Heinemann, Dorothy McIver, Nancy Hazard, Judy Atkins,

Updates

Greenfield Housing Study—Amy Cahillane
The City’s housing study is ready. Click here to view video of Part 1 of the Study.

The presentation (Part 2) will be held on September 12^th at 5:30 pm at the Jon Zon Center, remotely on Zoom: https://greenfield-ma-gov.zoom.us/j/99013351906?pwd=NglxBiwAyDlappGQHv2NMY9IZhGy7F.1

Discussions

Zoning Changes—Councilor John Garrett
I have attached the specific language of the zoning changes that are being considered. They will be considered for a vote in October. We will devote part of our October meeting to considering these changes and if we want to comment on any of them as an organization. Please read them carefully.  To view proposed zoning changes, click here.

Comments and questions at the meeting included:

  –Why is a building with a single front entrance included in the zoning laws at all? And if so, why is the number of units in the building important? 50 is better than 24.

  –On Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Should site plan review require that the abutters be notified so they can weigh in? Recently, there was a meeting with EOHLC and town planners to discuss the new ADU law. There seems to be some nuance in the way the law is being interpreted. We should learn more about that.

Trailers and Campers in private yards as Interim Alternative Housing until New Affordable Housing Can Be Built
Chuck Green has provided us with the slides he used in his presentation. They are attached. This idea prompted a great number of questions:

  –How will sewage and provision of clean water be handled?

  –Would this create a landlord/tenant relationship between the property owner and camper resident and is that covered under present state laws?

  –How would electrical be handled?

  –Most campers are not designed for cold weather. What happens then?

  –How does this idea fit with existing state law which says that people cannot live in temporary vehicles as housing for more than 6 months of the year or that temporary vehicles cannot be on a piece of land for more than 6 months?

  –Would there need to be registration of these housing situations?

  –How does this fit with existing city regulations regarding trailer park/campground and the amount of land required?

  –In essence aren’t these ADUs with wheels?

  –Is there a difference between a landowner owning the RV/camper/trailer or the person living in it owning it in terms of legality?

  –What is the cost to the city to inspect these vehicles and the health and safety requirements necessary for them?

  –Is there an expectation of the property owner to keep the camper warm in the winter?

To view the proposal to allow trailers and campers in Greenfield, click here.  To view Mr. Green’s slideshow, click here.

Changes to the Cluster Development Ordinance—Susan Worgaftik
The Economic Development Committee of the City Council will be considering changes to the cluster development zoning that is presently on the books. Susan said that she noticed that there were incentives for cluster development in the ordinance according to the Recorder article. She noted that there were no incentives for making the properties accessible for disabled people and that there should be. Housing Greenfield voted to bring this up to the Economic Development Committee at their meeting on September 10^th.

  –There was also a question about the size of the parcel being considered, 5 acres. Could there not be smaller parcels for consideration…possibly 2 or 3 acres?

CHAPA Funding Opportunity–Susan Worgaftik
We and many other housing advocacy groups around the state were contacted by CHAPA that they were given a grant to allow groups to provide services to the community. Susan suggested that Housing Greenfield should request $1500 (the maximum funding allowed) to begin a housing registration project where students from GCC are employed to go door to door to establish addresses of rental units and also drop off tenant rights information. It was agreed that the proposal should be written.

Updates

Winter 2024-2025—Anna Oltman
  –The City recently held a meeting to discuss this issue. Anna was pleased to report that a site for a pop-up warming center for very cold nights has been identified. The city is now working on the question of staffing for this site.

Community Education about Encampments—Susan Worgaftik
  –There has been a great deal going on regarding the planning for winter and the changes in the rules for family shelters and the group has not met. We will report back in October.

Next Meeting:  Monday, October 7^th 6:30 over zoom.