I think some of the reactions to Rod Francis’ recent resignation from the Planning Board have been based on a misapprehension of the sequence of events. Mr. Francis sent his letter of resignation, including a request for an "exit interview," to the Town Manager at least a couple of weeks before a reporter called him to ask about it and the contents of the letter became the subject of an interview in the local press.
I’m less interested in the resulting commotion than in the issues the letter raises about the direction in which our town is moving – or not.
During the "budget season" there was considerable discussion of the need for Amherst to find new sources of revenue beyond the real estate tax on residential property. We are now in the fiscal year for which the overrides failed, and are beginning to experience the actual cut-backs that are the result of budgets that can’t keep up with inflation. Chances are that next year will be more of the same: an attempt for an override, reductions in many programs even if the override passes, long-term residents finding they have to move out, etc. Is this our fate, year after year? I hope not.
The Comprehensive Planning process offers hope. Its goal is to bring us together and define, among other things, where commercial development should be encouraged. The draft on the website gives the following goal for Economic Development: "To strengthen, diversify and grow the economic base and employment opportunities in the town, through smart development in the downtown, village centers, and commercial zones. Initiatives will be focused on clusters of businesses, mixed services, high technology/clean industries, cultural attractions, education, tourism and agricultural resources."
As a general statement, that sounds good. But how do we make those things happen? How do we move from platitudes to tax-paying (and employing) businesses?
We need leadership. Someone who can engage us in thinking about what forms of economic development are possible, where they can take place, and how to get there.
Where is that leadership going to come from? It should come from elected officials – the Select Board – guided by the Planning Board and staff, who are the people who know the most about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to zoning. If we had a staff person designated as the economic development planner, then of course he or she would lead the way. But we don’t – we can’t afford to.
Unfortunately, the people in charge now don’t have a sense of urgency on this issue. When Larry Shaffer was hired as Town Manager, his experience and skill at economic development were cited as some of the reasons for his selection; but so far the Select Board has not shown much desire to use those talents. Instead, it seems that many of them have been in agreement with the "don’t build anything near anybody" philosophy of some of their constituents. In Town Meeting, NIMBY (not in my backyard) arguments generally carry the day. We’ve been paralyzed by a fear of change.
The reality is that the kinds of businesses we want – and have some chance of attracting - - need not be unpleasant neighbors. I live within a few hundred feet of a large medical building. It is not a bad neighbor: it has no large parties, no practicing rock bands in the garage, will never be rented to hoards of undergraduates, and is closed on the weekends. Occasionally I hear the dumpsters being emptied in the morning. Some very expensive houses are as close to it as my condo is.
In the meantime, on a parallel track, people are working to reduce our community’s collective "carbon footprint." We can’t depend on the large institutions to do it all. For families and individuals, that means using less fossil fuel at home and for transportation than we do now. It would be a lot easier for more people to get to work without driving if more people lived closer to their work. Our current patterns of residential development don’t fit that goal. We need to start talking about that, too.
There are many people in Amherst who want to keep our high quality services but are unable to pay dramatically increasing property tax bills every year. There are many people who want to take real action to reduce carbon emissions. People who recognize that change is happening, and who want to guide it, rather than be dragged along screaming "no!" Not choosing, not acting, is a choice – a bad one. It’s time for those who want to guide the change to come together and make it happen.