Plympton Housing Production Plan Committee Seeks Citizen Engagement
The recently formed Plympton Housing Production Plan Committee (HPPC), is rolling up its sleeves to deliver its plan to the state by the end of 2017—but it hopes that all adult residents will participate in the process through any or all of the following: complete the Housing Production Plan Survey, attend the informational session, ask questions, and/or make suggestions. The Housing Production Plan Survey will be available 10/23/17 to 10/31/17 and is a great way to let the committee know what’s on your mind.
The survey is available online https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/plymptonHPP , paper copies are available at the Town House and Library. The committee will use the information to guide recommendations within the plan.
As its name implies, HPPC’s primary focus is the development of a housing production plan, which will serve as a roadmap for expanding the diversity of residence options in town. This document will include information on current housing and future housing needs and trends in Plympton, as well as goals and key strategies for meeting these needs. HPPC will aim for a plan that’s consistent with the town’s needs, its unique character, residents’ priorities and state law. A consultant from the Old Colony Planning Council, whose collaboration is funded by a state grant, will support the effort.
Why a Plan? Keeping Local Control Local
Why is the town bothering with a plan? Isn’t this just adding a layer of bureaucracy in a community that already struggles to keep key governance positions filled? Maybe, but according to HPPC Chair (and Selectman) Christine Joy, it might be better than the alternative.
She explains: “How housing is developed will impact our lives for years to come. With a plan, we can have greater influence and shape what will happen. Without a plan, we essentially cede our local control to the state.”
This is because of a state law passed decades ago (and updated more recently). The legislation is intended to ensure that housing is financially accessible and affordable to people throughout the Commonwealth. A major provision stipulates that 10% of homes in each municipality’s housing stock should be “affordable” to those with household incomes less than 80% of the area mean. (See side bar, A Few Facts, for details.) Plympton neither meets this target nor has a state-certified plan to do so.
Below Target Without a Certified Plan Has Consequences
State law governs what happens in situations like Plympton’s. If the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals declines a proposed project that includes affordable housing, the Commonwealth is empowered to step in and override that decision, and many local zoning by-laws, as well. And because of the economics involved, it is likely that a project involving such zoning overrides will be more desirable to developers than one that falls within local rules. The state can make decisions that would impact the Town, possibly in ways that abutters and the community might find undesirable.
“Like many people, especially those concerned with the quality of life for our Town’s aging population, I embrace the idea of a thriving community with diverse housing options. I am especially concerned that we foster opportunities for senior residents who wish to downsize to more manageable and affordable homes in Plympton,” Joy states. “That said, I want to be sure that any unintended impacts—on water use, the need for services, traffic, aesthetics, etc.—are minimized. And for that, we need to maintain local oversight. A housing production plan is our key to maintaining local control.”
Next Steps: Community Involvement
Joy says that the committee, which formed in late spring, has developed a survey to help the committee learn what residents’ hopes and concerns are around this issue. “I urge everyone to respond before the survey deadline 10/31/17. We want to know what people would like to see, and what they are concerned about,” Joy says. “This is our town. The plan will work best if we know what people are thinking about affordable housing in Plympton.”
The committee will host a Q&A session with the help of Old Colony Planning Council, on 11/1/17 at 7:00 PM in the Town House to discuss current and future housing needs and trends in Plympton, the survey results, goals and key strategies for meeting these needs and how we can incorporate them into our housing production plan.
Finally, Joy reminds residents that the committee welcomes residents at its meetings (which are posted) and also suggests contacting the committee, through Joy via phone (781-585-6930 H) or email .
Meanwhile, she notes, the committee continues to educate itself on options and opportunities. Toward that end, it has been working with Old Colony Planning Council’s consultant and has met with Habitat for Humanity and local developers to gain insight into the local opportunities and impacts related to this plan. Under the terms of the grant, the plan must be completed by December 31, 2017.