Finley Perry – Towns saying ‘no’

Savoy voters recently put an abrupt halt to efforts to limit development, sending a clear message to the town officials who backed the limits that they want growth to continue.

Voters earlier this month defeated proposals to temporarily ban the construction of condominiums and multifamily housing and to limit construction of new homes to five per year.

The proposals were part of 46 warrant articles that had been pitched by town leaders as part of a comprehensive zoning package for the small Berkshire County town. All of the proposals, including one that would have banned mobile homes, were rejected.

Savoy’s efforts come just as other communities in the commonwealth, confronted with growth and development spurts, have also tried to put the brakes on home building.

In March, for example, Barnstable sought a moratorium on new development as it considers permanent building restrictions and affordable housing issues.

The Cape Cod Commission, a regional regulatory and planning agency, recommended Barnstable be designated as a District of Critical Planning Concern. That designation, also given to portions of West Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Harwich over the last decade, gives communities time to tackle growth management concerns.

In Savoy, town officials looked at communities like Heath, Windsor and Plainfield for guidance in reshaping their zoning rules.

Town officials were not completely surprised by the voter backlash this month.

Savoy leaders heard the outcry from residents during three public hearings since December. Property owners complained their rights were being trampled by the restrictions.

Planning Board member Deborah Kaczowski said the measures failed because there were too many proposals for residents to consider and many didn’t understand the board’s goals.

“I think there was a panic,” said Kaczowski, who has served on the Planning Board for two years and lived in Savoy for more than 20 years. “I think that people thought we were trying to stop growth.”

Kaczowski said town leaders are not trying to stop growth, but instead wanted to temporarily restrict building to update building laws that have not been revised for about 20 years.

The ultimate goal was to “balance the town’s economic health with the health of the environment,” she said.

Land use and environmental guidelines must be established as developers continue to build in Savoy, a community with a little more than 700 residents. If guidelines aren’t updated, the town risks losing its rural character and valuable open spaces, Kaczowski said.

“But we’ve at least raised awareness of the issues facing Savoy,” Kaczowski said.

Unlike many other Massachusetts communities, some of which have seen their populations double, Savoy grew a modest 11 percent over the last decade – from 634 residents in 1990 to about 705 last year. Those figures are based on the 2000 U.S. Census.

Richard B. Kramer, executive vice president of the Home Builders of Western Massachusetts, was surprised by Savoy’s extensive proposals.

Communities in Western Massachusetts are using zoning laws already in place to guide housing construction and development layout, but there has not been a concerted effort to stop building, he said.

“I think people are becoming more conscious of development,” Kramer said. “But there hasn’t been a major undertaking to completely shut things down.”

“Very few places, in the last six or seven years, have looked to restrict or [put a] moratorium [on building].”

It is much more common for neighbors to oppose a certain development, rather than having a general organized effort to shut down any type of building, Kramer said.

“The regional planning commission is doing a good job working with businesses and the communities to keep all elements of development in pace,” he said.

Round Two?
While the proposed building limits in Savoy remain an exception to the rule in Western Massachusetts, similar occurrences are more common in the Greater Boston area.

“It’s been exactly the opposite,” said Finley Perry, legislative chairman for the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts. “Communities in Greater Boston have been trying to find ways to preserve their rural character.”

Communities surrounding Boston, faced with building surges, are struggling with more traffic and demands on town services, and increasingly saying no to developers.

Some communities are unprepared to deal with development issues, and the restrictions they are putting in place are driving up housing prices, said Perry.

In addition to defeating building limits, Savoy residents voted against a proposal to increase lot frontage requirements from 150 feet to 200 feet, restrictions on cellular and other communication towers and a cap on building heights.

Even though they lost this round, town leaders say they will continue to educate residents about the importance of saving precious open space and updating their zoning rules, and may revisit some of the proposals.

“We want to take a look at this again and continue to raise awareness,” Kaczowski said.