Hamilton Planning Board to revise flexible zoning bylaw after developer raises double-fee concern

HAMILTON — February 16, 2021 — Hamilton Planning Board hears developer warnings about double financial burden in draft flexible zoning bylaw. Developer Larry Smith told the board at its February 16 meeting that building 15 units under the proposed flexible residential zoning bylaw in the R-1B zone would trigger roughly $462,000 in affordable housing payments on top of open space fees, pushing the total burden toward $1 million and making the bylaw financially unworkable for most builders. Smith, who has a 50-unit project proposed at 133 Essex Street carrying an affordable housing payment of nearly $1.65 million over its life, said energy efficiency and open space density bonuses were attractive but that the smaller-unit bonus held no market appeal, with buyers in Hamilton uninterested in units under 1,800 to 2,000 square feet. Planning Director Patrick Graffett confirmed the draft bylaw incorporates the inclusionary housing requirement by reference and that changes must be made within the flexible bylaw itself. Member Marnie Crouch suggested raising the affordable housing trigger threshold from 10 units to 20 rather than eliminating it, preserving the fund while reducing the deterrent to smaller projects.