After being offered a Seasonal Communities designation by the state, Hawley and Monroe will need to ask voters whether to accept the title at future Town Meetings, though Hawley officials are skeptical that it would significantly change housing stock in town.
If voters accept the designation that was offered by the state in December as part of efforts to increase year-round housing options through the Affordable Homes Act, the towns would be allowed to put deed restrictions on homes to designate them as year-round residential properties, allow development on smaller lot sizes and increase tax exemptions for primary residences. The designation would also make the towns eligible to apply for up to $2 million in Seasonal Communities grants, which could be used for housing needs assessments; infrastructure upgrades such as expansions of the sewer or water systems, or roadways, that would allow for more development; and zoning changes.
In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey said the Seasonal Communities designation was created to offer tools to communities that are facing pressures from having more seasonal homes and limited housing for year-round residents.
“Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts’ cultural and economic fabric, but they’re also home to essential workers, families, seniors and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round,” Healey said. “That’s why we’re committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I’m thrilled that we’re offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season.”
“These cities and towns are more than just vacation destinations, and the entire region feels it when year-round residents can’t afford to stay in the communities they serve,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement.
The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including all towns in Dukes and Nantucket counties, towns with more than 35% seasonal housing units in Barnstable County and towns with more than 40% seasonal housing units in Berkshire County. To identify an additional 18 communities to receive the designation, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second or vacation homes. In addition to Hawley and Monroe, the office has offered designations to 10 towns in Berkshire County and six towns in Barnstable County.
According to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ data, 24.3% of housing units in Monroe are seasonal and 5.7% are short-term rentals. In Hawley, 16.4% of housing units are seasonal and 6.6% are short-term rentals.
In Hawley, Selectboard members said they plan to include a vote on the designation on a future Town Meeting agenda, potentially in February or March. However, they are unsure the designation would have much impact on the town.
Selectboard members said the town could accept the designation and not make any changes, as the designation offers different tools, such as the ability to create a housing trust fund to support development projects, but the town will not be forced to do anything if the Seasonal Communities title is accepted.
“We could accept the designation and do absolutely nothing,” Selectboard member Hussain Hamdan said. “I think this is a solution for a problem that exists in places like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and don’t think it’s a situation that we’re dealing with.”
Hamdan said the people who have vacation homes in Hawley pay taxes to the town, but they do not typically drain town resources. Many are not in town during the winter, do not send their children to the schools and do not vote in town.
“They’re basically the willing victims of taxation without representation,” Hamdan said. “So why would we want to tax them even more?”
Board members added that they are unsure whether other options that are made possible through the designation, such as allowing housing development on small lot sizes, would even be feasible in Hawley, as the designation would not override other state laws and standards, such as Title 5 septic requirements.
Monroe town officials could not be reached for comment.