2021-11-08-STM#1-min-as Amended June 2022

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November 8,2021 Special Town Meeting#1(2021-1),cont. single family,senior independent living,or apartments. He further noted that "diversity"included people of different backgrounds,including economic,age,and religion and that Housing for seniors was a goal. Mr.Zhao asked whether there could be senior living units as an incentive criteria for developers. Mr.Hornig stated that under the Fair Housing Act,housing developments cannot be partially age restricted. He further noted that the flexibility of unit types created in OSRD,some units could address accessibility. Mr.Zhao asked whether Fair Housing Law only applied based on age,and asked if the structure having single floor living should be allowed. Christina Marshall,Town Counsel,noted that this was a possibility but explicitly designed for a particular usage such as single family living could be a possibility but something designed for a particular age group would be in line with Mr.Hornig mentioned. Mr.Zhao stated that most seniors could not live in a multi-level dwelling so wondered if we could add criteria such as a single floor living arrange. Ms.Marshall stated that they could,but not towards a specific age group. 8:10 P.M. Mr.Hornig stated that they learned while they developed the plan that they could not have accessibility rules inconsistent with the regulations of the Architectural Accessibility Board so could not require something stricter than what they required. 8:10 P.M. Wendy Manz,Pct.9,stated that she was strongly in favor of the Article and noted that it was one more tool to encourage builders to develop and create housing that was more varied and hoped to encourage affordable and moderate diverse housing. She noted that a density bonus was offered to developers for smaller,more clustered housing,and addressed moving toward the goals of open space and affordable and moderate housing. 8:12 p.m. Leonard Morse-Fortier said that the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC)had been working for the last 3 years to formulate a comprehensive plan. He stated that he hoped that the Members would vote"no"in anticipation of a better Article for the Annual Town Meeting. He said that to vote on this version of the Article,prior to the completion of the plan,seemed inappropriate. 8:14 p.m. A statement from a residents was read by Public Information Officer,Sean Duggan. Margaret Heitz,335 Merritt Road,said that she supports the Article and stated that the perceived the problem of increased housing density as overblown. She noted that she lived in a single family home near 341 Merritt,an 8 unit development,with a driveway that led to her street. She estimated up to 24 occupants. She further stated that she had suffered no inconveniences from the larger occupancy and encouraged others to vote"yes"on the Article. 8:15 p.m. Michael Boudett,Pct.4,asked the members of the Select Board to state who had been opposed to the Article and asked that they delineate what they felt needed more study. Mr.Pato, Select Board Member,stated that he was concerned about changes in"by right''developments that have come,in his thinking,without adequate controls and provisions for sustainability,particularly ones that would meet the spirit of Town Meeting's vote to addressing the impact of greenhouse gas generation and hoped that further study would address some of his concerns and resolve them before the Annual Town Meeting. 8:18 P.M. Mr. Sandeen, Select Board Member,stated that he strongly agreed with the points Mr. Pato had made and said that before"by right"zoning,they needed to ensure that they were developing for the long haul,and that new construction should be consistent to Article 29 that had been passed at the Annual Town Meeting.