Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties have an accute housing shortage, which is driving up housing prices and preventing young adults (including our own children) from buying homes in the communities where they grew up.
The recently completed National Zoning Atlas (https://www.zoningatlas.org) goes a long way toward explaining why we have this crisis. In Hampshire County, zoning restrictions mean that only 27% of residential land allows, unconditionally, for two-family homes, only 6% of residential land allows unconditionally for three-family units, and only 1% of residential land is zoned unconditionally for four or more residential units on a single property.
Franklin County is much more generous toward two-family structures, allowing them on over half of residential acreage, but like Hampshire County, it is highly restrictive when it comes to allowing for multifamily units on a single property.
Hampden County — which includes both Holyoke and Springfield — comes out ahead with regard to multifamily residential land. There, zoning restrictions allow for two-family homes on 33% of residential land, three-family units on 15% of residential land, and four or more units on 19% of residential land.
The first step in meeting the challenge of our housing crisis is to change our zoning laws. If you are concerned about the rising cost of housing in our communities, go to the National Zoning Atlas, look up the zoning laws in your community, then let your municipal representatives know that you favor loosening zoning laws in order to bring housing costs down.
Sharon Farmer
Holyoke