Needham committee says community meeting showed mixed support for smaller homes

The Large House Review Committee on Sept. 30 reviewed public feedback from its community meeting and said the session produced mixed but useful input, including a live poll that split attendees and several written comments raising concerns about size, tree loss and affordability.

Committee members said the live survey — which was not scientific and allowed multiple responses — showed roughly two-thirds of attendees favoring some reduction in the maximum bulk of new houses while a substantial minority favored no change. At the meeting the committee reported the raw in-person survey counts as: 39, 40 and 36–37 for various “yes” questions about concern and direction; 19 respondents said “no” when asked if the committee was on the right track; and one display showed 18 people preferring “no change.”

Why it mat…