Byline with Stan Rosenberg: Community Resources Committee Returns
Channel: Amherst Media
Date: 2019-11-23

Record date: November 15, 2019
Stan interviews Town Councilors Mandi Jo Hanneke and Dorothy Pam, who head the Community Resources Committee, (CRC).7. They discuss the CRC's role in policies and plans for housing, parking, the economy, and other factors that will shape Amherst's future.
The CRC, under the Amherst Home Rule Charter, has a broad charge to review and make recommendations to the full Town Council on "quality of life issues," including planning, zoning, community development, arts and culture, and housing affordability. Hanneke was recently named chair of the CRC,and Pam (of District 3) is vice-chair. Members also include Town Councilors Andy Steinberg, Stephen Schreiber, and Patricia De Angelis. (The CRC website is here: https://www.amherstma.gov/3476/Community-Resources-Committee.)
A major CRC responsibility, Hanneke and Pam said, is to launch an update of the Town Master Plan, including policies concerning land use, public resources, and relations between the town, UMass-Amherst, Amherst College and Hampshire College. 
The CRC works with with other town boards and committees, and the Town Manager, to refer matters for review. Recently, this has included the Downtown Parking Working Group's recommendations, and a housing policy draft from the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust.(The Town Council has said that it wants a broader community conversation about affordable housing.)
In coming months, the CRC will weigh town safety issues, including traffic and transportation, and the condition of sidewalks and public ways.
Hanneke and Pam, who are making their second appearance on "Byline," will also discuss the pros and cons of another downtown parking garage, projected costs (recently estimated at $140,000 per parking space), and the prospects for garage development via a private, non-profit venture. 
The CRC's most recent agenda is here: https://www.amherstma.gov/…/View/49261/2019-11-20-CRC-Agenda
This segment of "Byline" will repeat on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.
Prior episodes are always available on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCECEesweX78OaddZ1V3yaTA and at https://amherstmedia.org/.
Byline is co-sponsored by Amherst Media and the League of Women Voters of Amherst.