Community Resources Committee Sep 24, 2026

The Town of Amherst Community Resources Committee held a remote meeting on September 24, 2026, primarily focused on housing development strategies and collaboration with other local bodies such as the Planning Board and the Affordable Housing Trust. The committee discussed priorities within the Housing Production Plan, emphasizing zoning changes as a key lever to enable more affordable and diverse housing options, including workforce, family, and graduate student housing. Members highlighted the need to coordinate efforts across multiple boards and departments, identify funding sources, and consider zoning overlays and cluster development amendments to increase housing density and affordability. The committee agreed to develop a set of housing priorities to present to the Town Council and to engage in further joint discussions with related entities to align strategies and staff resources. Additionally, the committee addressed administrative matters, including a backlog in meeting minutes processing and efforts to use AI tools to expedite minute generation.