The Gazette has reported that the Northampton City Council voted on May 21 to remove a 2,000 sq. ft. size cap that triggers the extra permitting step of a Planning Board site plan review for two-family homes. “Two units are better than one for those wishing to build housing in Northampton after the City Council approved a zoning change Thursday night that would allow larger two-family homes to be constructed by right without a Planning Board site plan review.” [Gazette, May 23]
Contrary to the councilors’ popular talking points, this ordinance change does nothing to increase the stock of more affordable housing in the city. Bigger structures cost more, not less. The ordinance change will make it easier for builders to make bigger, therefore more expensive, new housing. Higher profits for them, but not more affordable to the city’s middle income residents. People in the middle bracket don’t want or need more high-end buildings on the market. Working people, merely trying to make ends meet, want housing to be more affordable, not less so.
Kudos to the two councilors who voted “no” on this matter. The other seven owe their constituents an explanation for why they voted to increase the cost of new two-family housing.
Jackie Ballance
Florence