Community Housing Committee approves amended Mattakees housing recommendations

The Town of Yarmouth Community Housing Committee on April 14 voted to accept the Mattakees Utilization Committee (MUC) housing-preference recommendations as amended, authorizing a package of design and occupancy preferences for redevelopment of the former Mattakees school site.

The vote, taken after more than an hour of discussion about unit counts, building height and preservation of wooded buffers, was unanimous. Mary (Chair), reading the motion, summarized the committee’s action as a motion “to accept the MUC housing preference program, as amended,” spelling out changes on building heights, elevator requirements, siting and other notes.

The committee’s recommendation establishes two scenario ranges labeled “moderate” and “elevated.” Under the moderate scenario the document lists a target of 62 rental units; under the elevated column the plan lists 24 rental units. Both scenarios call for mixed‑use residential with small commercial/community uses compatible with housing (for example, childcare, convenience retail and cafes). Multifamily buildings are described as two‑ to three‑story construction, with a requirement that any three‑story building include an elevator. The committee also specified a parking standard of 1.5 spaces per unit and a mix of studio, one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom units, with 25–50% of units designated affordable in the multifamily mix.

Committee members agreed to add at least one three‑story building to secure elevator access for mobility‑limited residents; the group also discussed the practical and cost tradeoffs of elevators versus platform lifts, with one committee member noting elevators can increase project costs…