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Great Barrington Select Board narrows and clarifies housing priorities; calls for plan
Summary
At a strategic‑priorities workshop the Select Board revisited affordable, workforce and year‑round housing goals, debated whether separate trusts are required for seasonal communities, and asked staff to explore a housing production plan and coordinator role.
The Town of Great Barrington Select Board spent the bulk of its work session reviewing housing as a strategic priority, including affordable and workforce housing, aging‑in‑place measures and requirements tied to the town's seasonal‑community designation. Staff described the draft priorities and told the board they will return with options for how a year‑round housing trust required by the seasonal‑community law could either stand alone or be combined with the existing Affordable Housing Trust.
"So that's why I am I put that on the list, for consideration of inclusion, is formulate a plan, which then the regional planning committee could commission could also assist us with," said Staff member (S2), describing the rationale for a housing production plan. Board members discussed reliance on private capital, use of short‑term‑rental revenues and ARPA funds to support housing work, and whether zoning changes should be driven by the planning board or by the Select Board. Public commenters later raised concerns about specific proposed projects and asked for clearer analytics (unit counts, parking, income targeting).
