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Date: 4/26/2022
EASTHAMPTON – A public hearing regarding the Smart Overlay District project will be conducted during a City Council meeting on May 4, according to City Planner Jeff Bagg.
The special zoning district, which is permitted by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40R, is designed to encourage the development of and access to deed-restricted affordable housing. Working essentially as an incentive program, 40R allows a developer to create more housing than zoning would normally permit provided at least 20 percent of the units are affordable.
The city’s current 40R district includes the Pleasant Street Mills, Main Street, Union Street and Cottage Street. Much of the discussion surrounding this district is focused on the expansion of this district to include the Center-Pepin Elementary School property and a significant portion of the highway business district on Northampton Street. The proposed changes will include amendments to the existing language and add flexibility.
“[The project] did get transmitted to City Council, so it is in their packet for the meeting that is coming up on May 4,” said Bagg, during an April 19 Planning Board meeting. “City Council is going to hold its required public hearing for that.”
The city received their letter of approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on April 6 showing their eligibility for this zoning amendment, which was one of the final pieces the city was waiting on to continue this process. Prior to this approval letter, the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend the zoning amendment to City Council during a March 29 meeting.
Bagg noted how this amendment would accomplish several goals within the city, including the production of more affordable housing. The idea was presented during an initial public hearing at the end of 2021 by Thomas Peake, the District 3 City Councilor who worked on this proposal. The DHCD letter acknowledges that, if this amendment were adopted, the city would receive an incentive payment of $250,000 for setting up the program to encourage more affordable housing.
The Planning Board has conducted meetings and public hearings with the city’s Ordinance Committee on this matter since mid-December 2021.