Letter to the Editor - Daily Hampshire Gazette    
 


October 29, 2009 
 








I am writing in response to the article “Nov. 3 Could Bring Major Change in Easthampton Council Make Up”.
I would like to clarify my position on an ordinance to increase affordable housing in Easthampton. 
The previous ordinance applied to “fifty-five and over” housing developments in Easthampton, not specifically
to "elderly and handicapped" housing as the article states. Under the existing ordinance, the town of 
Easthampton was becoming overridden with “fifty-five and over” developments, which were consuming large
tracts of our diminishing open space and farmland. The original ordinance gave a density bonus to developers 
for these developments with little return to the city, elderly or disabled.  My committee worked hard with the
planning board to make sure future developments would require fifteen percent of affordable units if the 
developer were to receive a density bonus.  The increased number of affordable units actually helped the 
elderly and disabled by making these units affordable, especially to those on a fixed income.  
Furthermore, my committee wrote tougher language into the ordinance to ensure that the new affordable units
would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or adaptable to ADA standards. 

I felt the article was unclear concerning my service to all Easthampton residents, especially the elderly and
disabled. 

Joseph McCoy
Easthampton City Councilor, At-Large