Balancing Housing Needs with Clean Water
The Southeast New England Program Network (SNEP) hosted a webinar in early March to offer solutions for the difficult problem of balancing housing needs with the protection of clean water.
The Problem: Increased housing growth will have a direct impact on Charlestown’s groundwater quality.
- Water quality is directly linked to land use.
- Increase in overall density = decrease in water quality.
- Polluted waters are very expensive to restore; prevention is critical.
- State regulations alone are inadequate to protect water quality; municipal land use solutions are needed.
- Smart growth can balance housing and water quality.
Possible Solutions: The key points from the webinar were:
- Housing density needs supporting infrastructure.
- The best locations for density are within the Urban Services Boundary (USB – areas with sewer and public water).
- Compact growth can avoid impacts to water quality.
- Towns outside of the USB should maintain low density but use compact growth.
- The State must provide financial and technical assistance.
Watch a video of the entire webinar below.
The banner image is a photograph of Black Pond in Charlestown. The watershed for this pond is protected by many acres of open space.
March 25, 2023 @ 11:39 am
Who are these people who want to build??!! Stop these lunatics?
March 21, 2023 @ 4:03 pm
Great information about how to balance housing needs and clean water! For sure, as is explained, polluted waters are very expensive to restore; prevention is critical.
March 20, 2023 @ 9:51 am
The state is focussed solely on additional housing, especially more affordable housing, but the end result may be quite different. Affordable means different things, lower prices only or the state definition of deeded affordable which maintains it at a moderate price long term by deed. Without municipal services, which would increase taxes hugely, Charlestown will not be able to sustain that increased density and maintain water quality. Current proposed legislation that enables additional accessory units on lots with little local input will put a strain on our groundwater and services. Without local oversight of where and how to achieve more affordable housing without affecting our groundwater and other resources the effect might just be denser market rate housing for those wishing to live nearer the coast not more affordable units. Balancing natural resources, town needs and affordable housing is a difficult process. Adjacent open space or undisturbed land helps offset the impacts of increased development but especially areas south of Rte 1 do not have much more, if any, undisturbed land to help that offset.
March 19, 2023 @ 5:56 am
How can a builder put up a house that has 100 ft. separation for septic systems and water wells and set those away from the structure? 5000 sq. ft. barelys allow for that separation, and that’s pushing the envelope. Before you know it, Charlestown will become overly developed in many sections of town. If you enjoyed the rural atmosphere, prepare to change your lifestyle.