Let’s Weigh It Out: 40R, What to lose, What to gain
Zoning Laws, not just here but everywhere that were once created to protect us (median income population) could now be used against us.
Rezoning could and will dictate where and how we shall live, and who we shall be financially subject to. The unique individuality of our quaint little town could be lost forever if we don’t make the right choices.
I want to share straight from the Massachusetts Zoning Act, a selected list of its main purposes as pertains to those protections, being dismissed, if 40R is passed. We should know what we are losing as we weigh against what we are told we are gaining, with 40R — which is the bare minimum, a roof over your head, while developers, investors/brokers make the maximum profits and gains.
Current Zoning Law Act- Protections & Purposes
• To lesson congestion in the streets
• To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers
• To prevent overcrowding of land
• To avoid undue concentration of population
• To encourage housing for persons of all income levels
There are more you can review on page 10 of the Massachusetts Zoning Act
The Neighb News reported visiting Plymouth in last week’s paper (7/25/24 issue: “A look at Cordage Park in Plymouth: A 40R District”), where 40R, dense housing has been developed. One of the stand-out statements in her article is that a new resident was still trying to get used to hotel style living. Will she ever adapt? Her rent was $2500 per month for 800 square feet, no porch, no garage, no back yard to grow a little garden in.
I have to admit, they look like cookie cutter boxes, like hotels. And $2500 does not at all sound like a decreased housing cost, as 40R claims to provide with dense building.
Whatever happened to building small adorable single Ranch Home/ Cottage communities?
That ended in 2016 most specifically, I noticed, when Trump, real estate mogul, became president. Mammoth homes were being developed from that time on. Homes that most middle class families could not afford, or even needed. And to top that, we had a clever invasion of Investors allowed into our neighborhoods who bought up our little family homes in areas not zoned for business. Turning our family median priced homes into mini hotels (Short Term Rentals), while pricing the median income population right out of homes that were originally built for them.
Remember the Zoning Act states to encourage housing for persons of all income levels. We all know that is not happening. Our zoning laws should have protected us from this.
Now the hard working median income families are being thrown into dense living, like a can of sardines. That is what we get for all our hard work. The bare minimum. Feel inspired?
The new homes built in Fairhaven off Sconticut Neck, were priced well over a half a million with 6-8% interest rates. Really? Interest rates are controlled by the Federal Reserve. But interest rates don’t affect the investor who pays cash for a home.
None of this makes sense. Does it? Or does it? Who is gaining here?
We all need housing. And the hard working middle class has the right to grow equity too, sit on their little porch at the end of a long working day, and maybe plant a garden in their back yards. We work hard for these simple freedoms. Hotel style living is not the Fairhaven culture we all know and cherish. Bring back our little cottage/ranch home style living, with middle median income prices, please.
Is 40R really the right choice for Fairhaven? Do we want to rezone and lose our current zoning laws? What about other housing options?
Michelle Costen, Fairhaven
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Click here for this week’s issue: 08-01-24 Diverseabilities
Click here for the TA’s letter choosing Dorgan for Chief: ALE Letter4Dorgan
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