Letter: 2019 Zoning Articles Are a Step Forward for Williamstown's Future

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To the Editor:

It is the role of the Planning Board to envision and plan for our town's future. That means they inevitably must grapple with questions of change: proposing adjustments to zoning bylaws to facilitate goals we want, while avoiding those harmful to us. It almost goes without saying that when the Planning Board is doing its job, residents will view it with a fearful eye — if for no other reason than it could bring change. But Williamstown needs change. In particular, we need to diversify our housing options. Not doing so effectively keeps out younger and older people of all kinds who struggle to find housing in our town.

This year, the Planning Board made every effort to invite the community into its discussions. The board received and grappled with a healthy diversity of opinion, and it has ultimately reached a majority consensus on a path forward, one that was unanimously supported by the Select Board. The present bylaw amendments are modest, commonsense proposals that represent the smallest impactful change voters seem likely to embrace at this time.

Article 32 simplifies the regulations regarding two-family housing, giving property owners the right to divide an existing single-family house without restriction. Current laws limit the size of the second unit to 900 square feet. Article 33 revisits the town's bylaw on accessory dwelling units (aka "in-law cottages"), making it possible for property owners to add a small housing unit in an existing or new structure, such as a garage or barn, or to build a new 900 square-foot dwelling unit by right, if their property conforms with town zoning.



To be fair to all property owners, the Zoning Board of Appeals will assess whether non-conforming lots can be appropriate locations for ADUs. The idea of further limiting Article 33 by requiring all homeowners (not just those whose lots are not in conformity) to appear before the Zoning Board will reduce the number of ADUs built and pointlessly pit neighbor against neighbor in the special permit process. The ZBA should not be put in the position of denying a special permit merely because neighbors have objections.

I urge you to support Articles 32 and 33 in the town warrant without any further amendments during town meeting. Let's move forward to accommodate careful growth for Williamstown's future.

Anne O'Connor
Williamstown, Mass.

O'Connor is currently serving as chair of the Select Board and writes that this letter reflects her personal viewpoint.

 

 

 

 


Tags: town meeting 2019,   

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Mount Greylock School Committee Votes Slight Increase to Proposed Assessments

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to slightly increase the assessment to the district's member towns from the figures in the draft budget presented by the administration.
 
The School Committee opted to lower the use of Mount Greylock's reserve account by $70,000 and, instead, increase by that amount the share of the fiscal year 2025 operating budget shared proportionally by Lanesborough and Williamstown taxpayers.
 
The budget prepared by the administration and presented to the School Committee at its annual public hearing on Thursday included $665,000 from the district's Excess and Deficiency account, the equivalent of a municipal free cash balance, an accrual of lower-than-anticipated expenses and higher-than-anticipated revenue in any given year.
 
That represented a 90 percent jump from the $350,000 allocated from E&D for fiscal year 2024, which ends on June 30. And, coupled with more robust use of the district's tuition revenue account (7 percent more in FY25) and School Choice revenue (3 percent more), the draw down on E&D is seen as a stopgap measure to mitigate a spike in FY25 expenses and an unsustainable budgeting strategy long term, administrators say.
 
The budget passed by the School Committee on Thursday continues to rely more heavily on reserves than in years past, but to a lesser extent than originally proposed.
 
Specifically, the budget the panel approved includes a total assessment to Williamstown of $13,775,336 (including capital and operating costs) and a total assessment to Lanesborough of $6,425,373.
 
As a percentage increase from the FY24 assessments, that translates to a 3.90 percent increase to Williamstown and a 3.38 percent increase to Lanesborough.
 
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