Planning and Select Board meet to discuss Ballot Question Seven

A ballot question known as Ballot Question Seven for the November election will lower the amount of land for a single family house to 5,000 square feet, which is .12 acres.

It states that local Zoning Boards cannot “unreasonably restrict” housing in areas that allow single family residences, and that connect to town water and sewer. This ballot question will not affect towns without town water or sewer. 

Due to concerns over Question Seven, the Select Board and Planning Board held a joint meeting. 

“We worked years in this town to make the town look the way it is,” said Planning Board Chair Lorri-Ann Miller, “We worked years to protect open land, we’ve worked years to work on all types of zoning and issues and it’s all going out the door. They’re just taking it away from us.”

Kevin Estes of the Planning Board pointed out that residents need to become aware of this ballot, and know how this could change the state. 

“This is a call to arms,” he said, “We have to take action, we have to take a position. But doing it within the town of Dartmouth is not enough, we need to get large with this. We need to bond together with other towns.”

Select Board member Shawn McDonald pointed out that from Memorial Stadium to Hawthorne Street could have 28 houses. This bill would allow them to add streets by separating the property into multiple 5,000 square foot lots, meaning that there could be more than this. 

“We’re going to look like the bad guys that we don’t want people coming into our town. That’s not the case,” said McDonald, “The case is we want at least some control as to our zoning bylaws.”

Helio Rosa, a member of the Planning Board, pointed out that there would be no need for developers to use 40B to create housing as this would allow them to build market-rate houses without needing to build affordable housing. 

There are many groups backing this ballot question; Legalize Starter Homes, Abundant Housing Massachusetts, the Charles River Regional Chamber of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, League of Women Voters Massachusetts, Massachusetts Association of Realtors, and Progressive Massachusetts. Other groups have donated, such as Welcoming Neighbors Network, Easton Bank and the Democratic Socialists for a Fair Massachusetts. 

Legalize Starter Homes is the main group, having contributed $1.4 million to get the question on the ballot. Other groups contributed a total of $1,550,050. 

“It seems like the realtors jumped on an opportunity rather than try and make a logical and doable solution,” said Select Board member David Tattlebaum. 

In a study conducted by UMass Amherst, 59% of voters supported this ballot measure, 21% were opposed to it and 14% were unsure. Another two studies by University of New Hampshire found between 36% and 42% support the bill, 14% to 17% didn’t and 29% to 40% were unsure. 

Heidi Silva-Brooks stated that she will be requesting that DCTV host a Frequently Asked Question on this issue.