Report on June 4 focus group

Some 25 residents weighed in on housing in Chatham at a focus group held June 4. Comprehensive Plan Update consultant Michael Allen showed 15 options of affordable housing built in other communities. Using a tallying app, plus open discussion, he drew out opinions about why some options could work in Chatham and others would likely be unwelcome.

Attendees seemed open to many of the options, subject to their being adapted for Chatham’s specific situation. They also displayed a sense of urgency about moving ahead with significant enhancements of the town’s housing inventory.

As with other focus groups in the comp plan process, numeric data and residents’ comments will be made available to the update review committee and used to fashion a new comprehensive plan for the town.