Robert Cress Catlin: Council should approve ‘one ADU on one lot’

STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Published: 04-14-2025 12:48 PM

A recent column in this paper suggests that “fear” is being used to argue about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) [”ADUs and politics of fear,” April 9]. I think “facts” can be scary to some people, but here’s the truth:

■We have been “scared” repeatedly that we need 600 more housing units in Greenfield but that’s over the next 10 years. Sixty units a year is much less fearful, and more doable.

■A state housing report released in February found that additional year round housing units in Franklin County needed to grow by less than 2.5% over the next decade, one of the lowest growth needs in the state.

■The only people who should be fearful of the “one ADU on one lot” concept are large real estate investment trusts and LLCs, who are accumulating personal wealth by squeezing as many rental units as possible out of their parcels.

■The families who want to create an in-law apartment or an “Granny flat” are not looking to build more than one ADU on their property anyway, so they can build that ADU “by right,” and have no fear of the citizen proposal.

■The state has said that every city in town has the “local option” to not allow multiple ADUs on one lot. That’s a fact.

I hope the Greenfield City Council passes the “one ADU on one lot” amendment in May based on facts, to take care of our families, and protect us all from corporate speculators.

Robert Cress Catlin

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