The City Council voted 7-2 on Sept. 4 to approve zoning changes affecting requirements for off-street motor vehicle and bicycle parking. Quaverly Rothenberg of Ward 3 and Jeremy Dubs of Ward 4 were opposed.

The ordinance sponsored by at-large Councilor Marissa Elkins and President Alex Jarrett of Ward 5 reduces minimum off-street motor vehicle parking requirements in residential, office industrial and water supply protection zoning districts. Additional parking for bicycles is required in some cases.

A minimum of one parking space for each residential unit is still required.

The ordinance states that “requiring motor vehicle parking that is not needed is a subsidy of car ownership, at the expense of transit and other modes, which is at odds with our climate goals, while bicycle parking requires little space, promotes non-motor vehicle travel and furthers our climate goals.”

I support the change because it will help support an increased supply of housing at all income levels and create a more welcoming environment for residents who choose not to use a motor vehicle, potentially leading to increased ridership that would encourage additional public transportation.

The ordinance is available here:

https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/25722?fileID=207762

Rent-control resolution

The City Council on Sept. 4 unanimously approved a resolution supporting a bill in the Legislative that would allow communities “to enact rent stabilization and ‘just cause’ eviction protections for tenants.”

The resolution sponsored by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, President Alex Jarrett of Ward 5 and Deborah Klemer of Ward 2 states: “Rental prices in our city have reached unsustainable levels, creating a deep divide and pushing out long-time residents and new arrivals alike;

“… in 2023, 53% of Northampton renters were housing cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs, and 27% were severely cost-burdened, paying 50% or more;”

Rent control has been illegal in Massachusetts since voters in 1994 approved a statewide ballot measure banning it.

In supporting the resolution, I cited the importance of communities like Northampton demonstrating their support for allowing rent stabilization measures resulting either from legislation or ballot approval

If the Legislature does not act, the attorney general has certified a ballot petition that would create a statewide rent stabilization program. The next step for supporters to get that measure on the 2026 ballot is to gather signatures from 74,574 registered voters by Dec. 3.

The resolution is available here:

https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/25697?fileID=207750

Stan