Public commenter urges condos, not apartments, for Riverside proposal

Wayne Elvis, who identified himself as a member of the conservation commission and cemetery commission, used the meeting's public-comment period to urge the commission to favor owner-occupied small condos or single-family homes at the Riverside site rather than large rental apartment blocks.

Elvis contrasted wastewater and infrastructure capacity in neighboring towns with the Riverside site's limited 6,000-gallon-per-day figure and argued that converting proposed rental apartments into owner-occupied condos would make homeownership more attainable for local workers. "Well, for $2.40, we're we're in a very affordable housing cost range if you make those condos instead of apartments," he said, urging the commission and staff to favor small-owner housing models. The chair said the commission would circulate his slides and data to members.

Elvis also observed that smaller ownership units can better provide pathways for teachers, nurses and others to build equity, and he encouraged commissioners to consider zoning tools that would favor owner-occupied small units where infrastructure and land characteristics make apartment buildings infeasible. Commissioners acknowledged receipt of his materials and said staff would share the slides with the Planning Commission.