Housing Committee Minutes
January 31, 2005
7:30p.m.
In attendance: Steve Schwab-Chair, Jim Feiner, Zelda Gamson, Thaw Malin, Josh Scott
Steve Schwab opened the meeting at 7:35p.m.
The minutes from January 12, 2005 were discussed and approved with amendments.
The committee reviewed the South Mountain Company preliminary proposal for Middle Line Road. Discussed, was SMC’s suggestions to have Craig Saunders complete water testing and Kent Healy complete road analysis and perk tests. The committee voted to approve the recommended site analysis. There was mention of taking excessive snowfall into consideration in regards to the road analysis. One committee member was unable to have their oil tank filled because of road access hindered by the snowfall.
The committee then moved to the options presented by the preliminary report of South Mountain Company for the development at Middle Line Road.
The committee discussed the buffer zones along the road. Zee Gamson mentioned that Molly Flender is a supporter of the buffer zone. Also, the issue of cluster dwellings was discussed. One of the benefits of clustered dwellings is the creation of a neighborhood. The committee discussed separating the rental units from the homesites as opposed to a mixture. The committee clearly favored a mix of rental units and homesites at each of the three clusters. Comments were also made to keep the houses 75 to 100 feet apart so each can have their “own space”. The committee liked the idea of exclusive use zones for the owners and renters. Josh Scott raised the topic of giving the owners considerable input into house design and construction. The committee discussed
the participation by the owner in the design of the home and favored the notion of maximum involvement wherever possible. Building all structures at once or as the owner was able was questioned. The committee agreed that it was a topic for the Planning Board to have considerable input. The units on the property would have shared wells and shared septic systems.
After much discussion about the options in the report, the committee voted and all favored B1 and B2 and requested a no cut zone instead of the three-acre buffer zone along Middle Line Road.
The committee reviewed the report for this year’s Town Report as written by Zee Gamson and voted approval unanimously with minor amendments.
The public hearing on February 22, 2005 was discussed with attention to drawing a large audience. Deborah Cini was instructed to place ads in both papers in addition to the classified section.
It was also requested to have Bill Randol emailed. The committee would like to extend to Bill the offer to become a full voting member of the committee.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30p.m.
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