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August 31, 2010

Our View: $30K housing study not needed in Danvers right now

Give Danvers Selectman Gardner Trask credit for suggesting the town look into ways of increasing its stock of affordable housing.

He's concerned that as a result of the 2010 Census count, the town will fall below the 10 percent threshold and once again be at the mercy of developers seeking to bypass local zoning with a promise to make affordable housing part of their plans. Currently in communities where less than 10 percent of the housing units are deemed affordable, developers can seek a state permit to build.

Despite Trask's legitimate concerns, however, his colleagues took the wiser course last week by voting against committing $30,000 now to study future housing options. The fact is that there is a question on the November ballot calling for the elimination of the so-called Chapter 40B developer exemptions, and there should be time between the election and the release of the latest census figures to take stock of projects in progress or on the drawing board and determine whether the town is lacking in affordable housing.

The wisest course for the town — regardless of where it stands with regard to the 10 percent figure and whether or not 40B still applies — would be to continue working with developers to make sure families of all income levels can find a home in Danvers.

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