Letter: Amherst Residents Must Speak Out Against Rushed Vote On New Zoning Priorities

On Monday, January 4 at 6:30 Town Council will vote on the following motion deferred from the December 21 meeting.

“To direct the Town Manager to present zoning amendments that promote diverse neighborhoods, affordable housing, and new growth in the downtown and village centers, in accordance with Town Council annual Policy Goal III Economic Vitality, in the following time periods:

By March 15, 2021

1. Adding B-L District to Footnote b
2. Adding footnote a the maximum lot coverage and maximum building coverage
3. Proposed a revised SDU bylaw, similar to the 2018 Town Meeting proposal
4. Demolition Delay bylaw revisions
5. Work with the Town Council to begin a conversation on housing types expansion 
6. Move apartments to SPR in more zoning districts
7. Remove footnote m
8. Revise the Apartments definition

By September 1, 2021

Dimensional Regulations for R-G and R-VC

1. Lowering barriers to development of duplexes and triplexes
2. Frontage regulations for Residential zones
3. Look at the appropriateness of USE TABLE for V-C. What kinds of businesses are allowed or encouraged in V-C districts—food, entertainment, services—things that make community and meet basic needs, within walking distance
4. Transportation issues (may not be zoning)
5. Use of Consultant money: for Form-based zoning/design guidelines.”

IF you don’t understand any of these amendments, then assume that neither do the Councilors;

IF you believe that these proposals are much too specific bylaw amendments without public comment and without a clear vision from the Council;

IF you believe using valuable Planning Department time and funds to write questionable amendments and/or hire zoning consultants is a poor use of our State and Local taxes; 

IF you believe that the Community Resources Committee (CRC) supporting document  is a one-sided legal argument requiring rebuttal;

IF you believe that many of the CRC assumptions are erroneous; 

IF you believe that these proposed amendments are not the highest priority in addressing bylaw loopholes;

IF you believe this is a fait accompli; 

Then you must act. Contact your Town Councilor via email or phone this weekend to demand that they stop this vote or vote no. All councilors can be contacted via towncouncil@amherstma.gov 

Note that the vote is set for 6:30 PM and only 15 minutes have been allocated for the vote and any discussion amongst the Councilors. No public comment will be allowed. 

Hilda Greenbaum