Marion Planning Board member Chris Collings has been skeptical about housing developments that at market value are still out of economic reach for young families. So he was quite enthused to read the latest iteration of the 2022 Housing Production Plan.
“What really caught my attention was Page 32, Implementation Strategies … I thought this report made the case … if Marion was to impact helping people live in their homes …,” noted Collings in support of the plan that Planning Board Chairman Norm Hills would later explain has had two prior iterations of greater length.
The vote to approve the Housing Production Plan during Tuesday night’s public meeting of the Planning Board was the culmination of what Planning Board Chairman Norm Hills estimated was 18 months of effort by the Affordable Housing Trust.
“This is the third iteration. The first iteration was 130 pages, the next one 71 pages, this one we’re down to 39 pages,” said Hills. “This time, we generally use things to get to a goal; it doesn’t specify a number of years like it did in years past.”
Collings thought of a River Road neighbor whose most-affordable solution was to stay in his home and have people visit to provide care. “Now they had to change the house around,” he said. “I like that there was space in this report for exactly that kind of thing. This report shows that the largest segment in town is the oldest.
“If we can help them make the house suitable … Marion is a very affordable place. It may always seem a little bit more, but the world has caught up. … These small (replacement) homes won’t be any cheaper than the ones they’re selling.”
The members present voted to approve with the exception of board member Andrew Daniel, who felt that the information about different affordable-housing scenarios dominated the report.
“By reading it, I was surprised to see how much ahead of other communities we are … It seemed the goal of (the plan) was to create 40A’s and 40B’s and smart 40B’s. I don’t know if that’s the direction we want to go,” he said.
Hills countered that the information presented only represents options.
“I don’t think that it hinders us any way going forward,’’ said Hills. “This doesn’t walk us into anything.”
“Knowing we had to put this plan together to meet state regulations, we certainly did that,” said board member Alanna Nelson. “It offered a lot of ways we can get our (affordable-housing) numbers above 10%.”
Daniel asked for the cost of the Housing Production Plan. Board administrator Terri Santos said she would get Daniel that information, noting that it was accomplished with the assistance of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) with Community Preservation Act funding.
Board member Eileen Marum, who motioned for support of the Housing Production Plan, also made the motion to endorse the Marion Open Space Recreational Plan (MOSRP), a 215-page report generated by the Stewards of Community Open Space over the last two years.
Hills told the board the final version was achieved with the Stewards of Community Open Space two weeks ago, and the document was awaiting the Planning Board’s endorsement. This vote was without exception.
Marum called the content “excellent and thorough.”
Nelson concurred, especially regarding a background section she called, “really well done. I was really impressed. … a lot of opportunities and whoever in town wants to move it ahead can move it ahead.”
In answer to Collings’ question, Hills said that 31% of Marion land is permanently protected and that 40% is open (the difference being properties such as the cemetery.)
Member Jon Henry was unable to attend Tuesday night’s meeting. Henry’s absence meant that the Village Style Smart Growth District (VSSGD) will go on the board’s next agenda.
A planned discussion with developer Sherman Briggs regarding Section 230-8.11 of the Marion bylaws (erosion control at his Spring Street property) was moved to the board’s next meeting at Briggs’ request.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, May 1, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station, also accessible live via Zoom.
Marion Planning Board
By Mick Colageo