SOUTH DEERFIELD — A Housing Production Plan, created in 2014 by the town with help from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, found the town needs affordable housing, at least in part, because there’s a pay gap between how much people earn and how much houses cost.
The housing plan also found that “there are no age-restricted units, or assisted living or nursing homes in town,” in addition to a lack of affordable housing. Combining the two housing needs, the study further found “there are no affordable senior housing units in Deerfield. Overall there is a shortage of affordable senior units in the South County region.”
“A range of options are needed for seniors in Deerfield, including smaller single-floor living options, condominiums that reduce the maintenance required by the homeowner, assisted living options, and financial assistance with home modifications and repairs for those who wish to remain in their homes.”
Selectboard Chairwoman Carolyn Shores Ness said the ideal solution, which is actively being pursued by the Selectboard, to both needs is to create affordable senior housing.
To create more housing, the plan suggested that, among other things, the town tweak its bylaws by implementing Inclusive Zoning, which requires new developments to make a certain percentage of housing units affordable for at least 30 years.
Since the plan was enacted two years ago, Alyssa Larose, Franklin Regional Council of Governments land use planner, said no bylaws have been changed at least in part because zoning changes aren’t “necessarily an easy thing to implement,” especially for an all volunteer Planning Board. Planning Board Chairman John Waite confirmed that as far as zoning bylaws are concerned, while there has been discussion, “we have not done anything official.”
The plan also suggested renovating existing buildings or “in-filling” with new developments near the center of town. Included as a suggested location for in-filling was 23 Sugarloaf St., at the base of Mount Sugarloaf (where Developer Mark Wightman’s recently proposed 72-unit senior housing development is). The location is described as “one example of the small infill opportunities on vacant or oversized lots along existing streets in the South Deerfield village.”
Other locations cited as ideal places for development included the former Oxford Pickle factory — that is now the site of the Highway Department garage and future new home of New England Natural Bakers — a town-owner land parcel at the end of Braeburn Road, and Hotel Warren. Ness said the town looked into purchasing and renovating Hotel Warren but found it too expensive.
As for the former Oxford Pickle Factory site, Wightman said at the time he proposed another senior housing project on the site, that was turned down in favor of business development. Shores Ness said the site on Braeburn Road, which the housing plan says is “totaling just over 6 acres … off of North Main Street in the Central Village Residential zoning district,” couldn’t be developed into senior housing because of road access problems.