ZBA CONTINUES HEARING ON SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT 132 NORTHAMPTON ROAD
REPORT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING OF 7/2/20
The meeting was conducted via Zoom webcast and was aired live on Amherst Media Channel 17.
Participating: Members Steve Judge (Chair),. Joan O’Meara, Tammy Parks, Keith Langsdale, Dillon Maxfield. Associate Members, Craig Meadows, Peter Berek, Bob Greeney and Sharon Waldman. Staff: Rob Morra, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Christine Brestrup, Planning Director, Nate Malloy, Senior Planner, Maureen Pollock, Planner John Witten, JD and Barbara Carbona, representing KPLaw, (Town Counsel)
For Valley CDC:
Jane Loechler, Executive Director
Rachel Loeffler, Landscape Architect
Laura Baker, Real Estate Project Manager
Tom Chalmers, Architect from Austin Design
The principal agenda item for this session was public comment and, with time remaining, Valley Community Development Corporation’s (Valley CDC) responses to questions posed by the ZBA at the first hearing. Judge made particular efforts to accommodate public comment, and several times mentioned the different ways that people can communicate with the Board, including email to staff and the Board and comments on the on-line form. As of yesterday 61 written comments from the public had been received.
During the first hour and ten minutes, fifteen people spoke —many of whom were members or former members of Town boards and committees. Most spoke of the great need in Amherst for single-person occupancy permanent housing with support services and of the value to the Town of providing these accommodations. Jay Levy, representing Elliot Homeless Services, spoke of how his agency works with Valley CDC in providing support services to the chronically homeless population. Others pointed out that the services planned by Valley CDC far exceed what any other project in the State does and that the feared “mental health” issues are “scare tactics” and no different from what could happen in any Amherst neighborhood. In reply to the half-mile hillside distance to downtown and shopping, speakers stressed that this was far preferable to living in tents in the woods.
Negative comments heard were that 28 bedrooms in mixed sized units for family housing would be a better fit with the neighborhood of young families with children. A neighbor to the east of the development would like the sixty year old, shallow-rooted hemlock tree border removed and an eight foot fence erected to keep residents from cutting across her lawn as the shortest route to downtown. Another resident seeming to speak for the homeless mental health population didn’t like CDC support services “hovering over us.” Another advocated for an independent review of the support services for the most vulnerable population, stating that a less pretty building would allow more of the $7.5M budget to be allocated to this end.
The second half of the meeting was devoted to Valley CDC responses to Board questions. Loeffler described in detail all of the proposed plantings, mostly native species, summer and fall foliage, maintenance, pollinators, habitat, nuts and berries for birds and animals etc. The Norway spruce border was discussed at length, concerning the potential danger of falling onto the neighbor’s house, and whether the Town Tree Warden should examine them. However, staff stated that these trees are not in their jurisdiction and that an independent evaluation should be sought. In the end because Valley CDC had agreed with the neighbor to remove the trees, the Board agreed to their removal and pointed out that a 6-foot fence is allowed by the bylaw if the waiver for an 8-foot one is not granted.
The bike storage shed—just sketched into the plans—will be a 24 foot long and just under ten feet high open structure constructed from native cedar and steel supports to hold 21 bikes. It will be lit by a ceiling fixture and have an outlet for charging electric bikes and wheelchairs.
In response to the request to lower the height of the light poles to 8 feet, the lighting engineering said that the lighting would be too focused. With ten foot poles the lighting would be as diffuse as with twelve feet but one more would be required for the same low-level lighting. All of these lights are solar-powered.
Lastly, questions about support services were addressed. A 300-page document approved by the Department of Housing and Community Services will be sent electronically to the Board members. They called it a “very robust plan”.
The meeting was continued to August 6 at 6:30, the first time when all members of this panel are available to meet.