WILLIAMSBURG — The conversation continues about what the town wants to be when it grows up, to use the words of Planning Board Chair Steve Smith.
As part of the process of looking ahead, an existing conditions report draft was presented by J.M. Goldson at the latest Planning Board meeting that focused on the town’s ongoing comprehensive plan with 15 residents in attendance Tuesday.
Developing housing is a touchy topic for many in town, and the topic was predominant at the meeting, brought up by both residents and members of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group. But Smith laid out how that doesn’t boil down to whether or not new houses are going to go up.
Zoning, for instance, was brought up.
Most places in the town’s center are non-conforming, which means if something is destroyed, it couldn’t be built back in the same exact way if the owner wanted to.
In that instance, changing zoning would actually help the town maintain its character, he explained.
There is also a lack of housing diversity — more so than a lack of housing itself.
The data collected by Laura Smead, who is J.M. Goldson’s representative doing the Williamsburg comprehensive plan, show that the current population numbers 2,400 with a median age of 50. On average, the town welcomes three new residents a year.
“The town is not growing all that fast,” said Smead. She added that while there is an aging population in town, there are also more young adults than in the past. However, Smead did speculate there may be an increased demand if there were to be a “spillover” from Northampton. But that was mere speculation, she told residents.
Trends are changing slightly with housing needs. More people have roommates and there are fewer families with children, Smead’s study showed. However, most people own their house, typically detached single-family homes, and there was mention of whether an aging Williamsburg population can continue to maintain their properties.
“Do we have the mix we want?” Smith asked residents who expressed some concern. “I don’t think anyone wants more houses … but can they afford the houses they’re in?”
According to Smead’s presentation, many in town can’t afford their housing and are cost-burdened, meaning more than 30% of their income goes toward housing.
“Though population growth is projected to remain flat, housing demand persists: vacancy rates have dropped to zero, affordability gaps have widened, and nearly one-quarter of homeowners and over 40 percent of renters are cost burdened,” read Smead’s power point.
Given these conditions, said Smith, “Doing nothing might turn this town into a gentrified place.”
He also said that subdivisions are completely out of the picture, since there is “no appetite in this town” for such housing, saying the town will not be building on the scale of a town like South Hadley.
“To satisfy the demand it’s very modest. It’s like 10 housing units a year,” he said.
Other than housing, zoning, and population, Smead’s presentation also touched on the economy and potential climate impacts.
Her presentation described Williamsburg as having a “resilient but narrow economy.”
“Williamsburg’s economy hinges on micro-businesses and export-oriented construction and timber firms, yet no single employer tops 100 jobs. An aging labor pool and patchy broadband threaten this resilience, prompting a push toward remote-work hubs, craft food, and mass-timber innovation to broaden the tax base while preserving small-town character,” her existing conditions draft stated.
The tax rate is higher than Northampton but lower than Westhampton, with a uniform property-tax rate of $18.10 per $1,000.
According to Smead’s study, 6% of the total land area in town is in a flood zone.
“Williamsburg faces significant flood and storm risks, particularly along the Mill River and Route 9,” the report states.
Her presentation went on to say, “Undersized culverts, deteriorating public safety facilities, and reliance on a limited road network exacerbate risk.”
Strengths identified, however, include strong civic engagement and protected open space. Multiple shelters have backup power and there is a legacy of proactive planning in this area.
Of the 5,100 acres of open space in town, 96% is untouched or “essentially vacant land,” she said.
The next Planning Board meeting will be held Aug. 11. Smead will be there in person to iron out any potential inaccuracies in her draft.
Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.
