tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post2732229572350041618..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Inclusionary Zoning ZappedLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-35473321516288800762014-11-07T23:33:19.324-05:002014-11-07T23:33:19.324-05:00Call Their Bluff proposes an interesting idea beca...Call Their Bluff proposes an interesting idea because the truth is only part of this group means what it says. <br /><br />The other part is simply riding this inclusionary zoning problem as far as it goes in order to achieve their eternal objective for Amherst: build absolutely nothing anywhere. Some of us remember how nasty it got in Precinct 7 before the HAP Project went up.<br /><br />Anyone want to take early bets on the Planning Board getting its inclusionary zoning proposal passed by two-thirds next May? The perfect is always available to be the enemy of the good. No one could complain if the entire Board simply vacated their seats at that point.<br /><br />But would even that cause the town's voters to come out of their trance about the joys of Town Meeting?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-80883731676522627582014-11-07T17:37:48.009-05:002014-11-07T17:37:48.009-05:00I think we all would like to see the Planning Boar...I think we all would like to see the Planning Board put inclusionary zoning, after years and years of waiting. Definitely make it progressive and make it quick. This wheel has been invented.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-79110542712540371012014-11-07T09:45:43.358-05:002014-11-07T09:45:43.358-05:00I would like to see the Planning Board put forth t...I would like to see the Planning Board put forth the most outrageously progressive inclusionary zoning possible. Give HUGE bonuses (size, height, extra units, and tax breaks) to developers to include HUGE amounts of affordable housing. You know, something that will actually draw in investment despite the inclusionary requirements, and actually have a chance of getting some new affordable units built on the developers' dime. Let's see these NIMBYS who purport to support affordable housing creation put their money where their mouth is. And let's see if its the same people that have fought to prevent affordable housing in S. Amherst in recent years.Call Their Bluffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-72011452321658847692014-11-07T07:51:54.244-05:002014-11-07T07:51:54.244-05:00And it only takes one-third (plus one) of the este...And it only takes one-third (plus one) of the esteemed body to kill it. Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-67630593278254083532014-11-07T07:50:09.779-05:002014-11-07T07:50:09.779-05:00These folks are low enough to take vengeance on th...These folks are low enough to take vengeance on the Planning Board's inclusionary zoning proposal next spring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-81575069225556752252014-11-07T07:33:13.660-05:002014-11-07T07:33:13.660-05:00Isn't this where you comment that Article 5 ha...Isn't this where you comment that Article 5 had majority support and would have passed if there wasn't a 2/3rds vote rule. And than rail against the the 2/3rds rule?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-62913386357886866052014-11-06T23:50:48.308-05:002014-11-06T23:50:48.308-05:00If you watch the part of the meeting referred to b...If you watch the part of the meeting referred to by Anon 5:32 p.m., it looks like some kind of group mental health breakdown led by the inimitable Ms. Gray. <br /><br />When we experience this kind of hysterical distrust in Amherst Town Meeting, which seems to happen at least once each spring and fall nowadays, suddenly something as bizarre from history as the Salem Witch Trials becomes far more conceivable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-72239837255508405342014-11-06T19:07:51.852-05:002014-11-06T19:07:51.852-05:00"Ownership: definition under debate, please c...<i>"Ownership: definition under debate, please check back after the community votes. Word may actually be outlawed."</i><br /><br />Agreed. This is a real problem in all of Taxachusetts, not just Amherst....Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-22908616124692851162014-11-06T17:32:36.839-05:002014-11-06T17:32:36.839-05:00My concern is that the level of distrust of Town G...My concern is that the level of distrust of Town Government has reached delusionary proportions. That fact was never more evident than during the comment period for the Planning Board's "housekeeping" article that sought to bring language up to date with current statute (replacing the titles Planning or Zoning Board with the more accurate, Permit Granting Board or Special Permit Granting Authority, for example, given that either --depending on circumstance--can serve those roles). It also removed the Lawrence Swamp from being mentioned under the Watershed Protection District BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THAT DISTRICT. Its mention under that section was erroneous, because its wellbeing is protected under The Aquifer Protection District, WHERE SUCH PROTECTION WILL REMAIN. No matter how many times this fact was explained, angry "protectors of our community" rose in opposition to the "fact" that the article was putting the Lawrence Swamp at greater risk. REALLY PEOPLE??? Do you read the warrant and board reports? Watch the warrant review? Attend precinct meetings? Listen to the explanations given by town boards? I'm guessing, not. What your continued antagonistic (not to mention ill informed) attitude is at risk of accomplishing is the abolishment of Town Meeting altogether.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-89237715223602133272014-11-06T16:31:40.202-05:002014-11-06T16:31:40.202-05:00Anon 1:21 pm
You can't stop people from expre...Anon 1:21 pm<br /><br />You can't stop people from expressing themselves. Nothing will change until town residents grasp the importance of what goes on in Town Meeting, and then either running themselves or urging others that they respect to run. You have to take the political reins in your hand and drive the carriage. You can't delegate political power to just anybody. <br /><br />This reckless article got a majority in the room last night. That's not good.<br /><br />Wake up and pay attention, Amherst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-34668885467492203782014-11-06T13:21:24.852-05:002014-11-06T13:21:24.852-05:00This article was a straight example of the older a...This article was a straight example of the older anti-development / anti-student minority in Town Meeting trying to keep Amherst from being developed. It’s only intent was to stop a BY-RIGHT building in our town center. Unfortunately, this attempt tried to use the very important topic of Affordable Housing as a pawn to stop a much needed building that clearly falls into our Master Plan. Affordable Housing is important and has been worked on by many parts of our town government, including Town Meeting and I personally believe that it should not be used as a shield to mask an anti-development / anti-student agenda.<br /><br /><br />Town Meeting articles, land court law suites, public protests and continues vocal public out cry when ever a project is proposed that is, or perceived as, student oriented has got to stop. We live in a collage town. No matter when you moved here (or where born here) it was a collage town. No amount of open aggression toward students or developments will change that. <br /><br />So maybe it’s time for this group to sit at the table with an open mind and help integrate the large student body into our committee thoughtfully instead of haphazardly which is all that has happened because of their current strategy. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-8028161330003585952014-11-06T08:48:50.945-05:002014-11-06T08:48:50.945-05:00Zoning is exclusionary by definition, you know lik...Zoning is exclusionary by definition, you know like racism, which also cannot be inclusionary.<br /><br />Zoming: you bought the property, but they make the decisions. <br /><br />Ownership: definition under debate, please check back after the community votes. Word may actually be outlawed. <br />Anonymous, so I don't matternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-90263389589146029282014-11-06T08:24:11.591-05:002014-11-06T08:24:11.591-05:00Discussion in Amherst is, by definition, "con...Discussion in Amherst is, by definition, "contentious" just as developers are, by definition, "evil" in Amherst.<br /><br />No need to use extra words. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com