Housing goals, setbacks and ‘scale’ draw divided views at Shandaken meeting

Housing recommendations in the draft plan provoked a lengthy exchange about scale, setbacks and the types of housing the town should allow. A planning-board member said the draft goes “one unit too far” by allowing four-unit buildings as-of-right outside hamlets and argued that quadplexes are developer-oriented, not ‘homes.’ The consultant team responded that allowing conversions (for example, creating additional units within existing large homes) can produce naturally occurring affordable housing and that current zoning often does not match existing hamlet development patterns.

Vicky Starr, chair of the local housing committee, urged residents to join committee meetings and workshops to help shape what new housing will look like. The consultants said rezoning to align code with the comprehensive plan will follow adoption and will include legal review, public hearings and additional community input — a process the town has allocated $100,000 to begin.