Picture this…

No restrictions on lot size per dwelling in your neighborhood. Jumbo buildings built next to small neighborhood homes. Feel crowded? Has the historic charm been disturbed?

Yup. Developers may soon have greatly reduced limits on density as they build more housing in Rockland. We definitely need more housing. But will it be affordable housing or just housing? What happened to the idea of a bonus density tool that would reward a developer to include a portion of affordable housing in a new large building?

If we allow everyone to build with zero density restrictions now, what is next? No height restrictions? Shrinking setback restrictions? Picture that.

Our very experienced, professional city planner suggested we all see pictures of what zero density restrictions might look like. Why aren’t city councilors listening to him? There is a computer tool that building designers can use to visualize the footprint, bulk and height of buildings.

Let’s ask our Rockland City Councilors to take the short time needed to use that tool and let citizens see the look of zero restrictions on density. Otherwise, we could be very surprised once relaxation is in place tempting developers to come to Rockland and build jumbo buildings.

If interest rates drop, we might even have a stampede of developers appreciating how great it is to be in Rockland.

At the Monday, May 13, 2024 city council meeting nearly all the councilors at first reading of an ordinance change seemed ready to allow zero restrictions on density in zones A and B and seemed uninterested in using a visualization tool to show us what unlimited density would look like. Seems rushed to me. Maybe more of us should speak up?

The second reading is Monday, June 10, 2024 with a public hearing. See you there.

Connie Hayes lives in Rockland