Williamstown Residents Question Affordable Housing At Photech, Lowry
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Cheryl Shanks outlined the steps needed for projects at both Photech and 59 Water St. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — As is customary, the Affordable Housing Committee on Tuesday heard criticism of its plans to pursue development of town-owned land currently in conservation.
In a rarity, it also heard some concerns about the plans for developing a "brownfields" site on the other end of town.
Twenty-four hours after the committee convinced the Board of Selectmen to ask the Conservation Commission to consider lifting restrictions on all or some of the Lowry and Burbank properties, they heard from one town's leading critics of that strategy.
Bob Scerbo told the committee that it is unrealistic to hold out hope to residents of the Spruces Mobile Home Park that replacement housing could be built on Lowry soon enough to accommodate them.
"We need to provide affordable housing in Williamstown, and we can provide great affordable housing," Scerbo said. "What we can't do is make them promises. We can't promise them cottages on property that is in conservation.
"The issues around those properties don't encourage a fast process. Photech and 59 Water St. are probably on a faster track, and it's unfortunate that the process might be slowed down by what goes on around (Lowry and Burbank)."
The committee stressed that it while it is pushing ahead on all four town-owned sites, it was taking pains to make sure that no one held up the others. Before the public comment portion of the meeting, committee member Cheryl Shanks outlined a flow chart that showed that requests for proposals would be issued for Photech and 59 Water St. even while the committee awaits a decision on Lowry and Burbank.
"It's great to see how the different initiatives can more forward, and we've always said we need to move forward on every front because any one initiative could fall through for some reason," AHC Chairwoman Catherine Yamamoto said.
Cole Avenue resident Kevin Kennefick did not suggest that plans to develop the former Photech sight should "fall through," but he did sound a note of caution about what should and should not be considered for the site.
Kennefick has lived on Cole Avenue for about 20 years and owns both a home that abuts the former mill site and the nearby former home of the Women's Exchange.
He said he has supported previous attempts to develop the abandoned mill, but he has concerns that some of the housing concepts that have been proposed might change the character of the neighborhood.
"The conceptual plans out there are to dump land in and push (housing) up against Mill Street as close as possible," Kennefick said. "You've got to think about smart growth and what makes sense and what you put on Photech and how it affects Mill Street."
Kennefick said that brining in new fill to raise potential housing out of the existing flood plain could alter the course of the Hoosic River and jeopardize the Cole Avenue bridge and surrounding properties.
"Personally, I feel in the age of global warming in which we live, you have to be crazy, desperate — which maybe we are — or miscalculating to build along a river," he said.
He said that during Tropical Storm Irene, the "cube," the brick structure that dominates the former mill site, was in the river and he was concerned the river would overtop the bridge at that time.
"If you try to not allow that land to flood, the bridge will be taken out, and the college will be rebuilding its baseball field, which it's already done twice, I think, and it's not that old," Kennefick said.
The committee thanked Kennefick for his comments and asked questions to draw more information from him. Committee member Van Ellett also pointed out that the committee plans neighborhood listening sessions as it develops an RFP for the Photech site.
"It's our intent to only provide quality housing that will improve the neighborhood," Ellet said. "We want to assure you of that."
Yamamoto picked Kennefick's brain for how the panel could get more neighborhood residents to attend such a session.
Neighbors to the Lowry property have not been shy about giving their input since the property was linked to replacement housing for the Spruces in a November announcement of the town's application for a federal Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Scerbo, who lives on Longview Terrace and has decades of professional experience as a developer, said it was unrealistic to think the committee could issue and RFP for Lowry shortly after getting the approval of the Conservation Commission — if that approval ever were to come.
Scerbo said the town would need to fully clear the conservation restriction first, and that would mean a vote of town meeting and, perhaps, an act of the Legislature, if the land is determined to be protected under Article 97 of the state Constitution.
The question of whether Article 97 is applicable to Lowry hangs over the debate that has dominated town politics for the last nine months.
The town has an opinion from town counsel saying it Article 97 does not apply. The Stratton Hills Condominium Association (the condos abut Lowry) have an opinion from a Pittsfield lawyer saying that Article 97 does apply. The Conservation Commission for months has been seeking guidance from state officials in Boston.
Ellet expressed guarded optimism that the Attorney General's office would provide some guidance in advance of the commission's Thursday meeting.
Scerbo said he thinks it is more likely the question would end up in the courts.
"Everyone is hopeful the Attorney General will provide clarity, but I wouldn't hold my breath," he said. "The Attorney General is not going to play the role of a judge. ... The Attorney General is going to step back and say, 'put on your boxing gloves.' I don't mean that in a crass way, but that's not the role of the AG."
