After deliberating an amendment to the zoning regulations which would have allowed for older homes to be converted into multi-family dwellings, the Planning and Zoning Commission decided to pursue a different direction in the town’s Affordable Housing Plan.

Though the amendment was not specific to any area in town, discussion centered chiefly on the old homes on Main Street. Preservation was the operative word, with member Ev Hyde looking to  conversion into multi-dwelling units as a way to preserve the historic homes, which are costly to maintain, while member Sue Hochstetter wanted to exempt Main Street from the amendment in order to preserve the historic district.

Potential problems with accommodating wells, septic systems and parking on Main Street were raised by members and residents, who also questioned allowing only the conversion of older homes into multi-dwelling buildings. Main Street residents who spoke in opposition to the amendment also noted that the village already has two multi-family dwellings, defined as at least three units, as well as several houses with apartments.

Under Conditional Uses in the RA- Zone, proposed regulation 6.22, Conversion of Older Homes to Multiple Dwelling Units, stipulated that “Older, larger residential homes, which by contemporary standards are energy inefficient, not accommodating of smaller household sizes, and whose conversion to smaller residential units could provide uses for the general public health and welfare, as well as increasing the energy efficiency of existing buildings, may be permitted by the Commission via Special Permit in the RA-80 District”. Only structures constructed prior to 1970 were considered eligible for conversion. Conditions to the regulation limited the number of units per home to four, and provided detail as to the size of the units, the building, and the parcel. The architectural design of additions to the structure were also subject to conditions, and parking, minimally one car space per unit, would be located behind the structure “where feasible”.

Preserving the homes, and the charm of our village, was a shared objective.  The village demographics have changed historically throughout the years. Originally part of larger farms, the houses were mainly summer homes in the early part of the last century as Hampton served as a resort destination. In the 50’s and 60’s, families moved into the homes on Main Street, and now most of these are occupied by individuals and couples, several of whom have retired to our town; the attention paid to these properties is illustrative of the homeowners’ collective desire to preserve their homes.

Converting older homes into multi-family dwellings was one facet of the Affordable Housing Plan, mandated by a State Statute which requires towns to develop plans to accommodate income limited residents every five years. Other initiatives include offering tax credits for income-restricting accessory apartments, promoting CHFA/USDA mortgage assistance, and streamlining the special permit process. The PZC will continue to discuss multi-family dwellings, defined as having four to eight units, in terms of scale, density, process and location, along the Route 6 corridor and elsewhere in town.