Why 4 Salem City Councilors Keep Voting Against Housing Proposals

SALEM, MA — Ward 4 City Councilor Tim Flynn was one of the four Salem City Council members singled out by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker last month as he made a case for changing a state law requiring super-majority approval at the local level for housing projects.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll "inevitably gets a 7-4 vote [when she proposes housing ordinances]. I think a 7-4 vote should be enough to move a housing project forward, and I think most people agree with that," Baker said at a June news conference. "In many cases, a small groups of people will get to say no to projects a majority of people in the community, and a majority of their representatives, support."

Flynn and three councilors — At-Large Councilors Domingo Dominguez and Arthur Sargent and Ward 7 Councilor Steve Dibble — have formed a bloc that has scuttled all but one proposal aimed at increasing affordable housing in Salem over the past three years. In addition to shooting down an ordinance that would have required all housing projects with six or more units to include affordable housing units, Flynn was also a vocal opponent of Driscoll's push to allow make it easier for property owners to add accessory dwelling units like in-law apartments.

"Overall, the residents I represent in Ward 4 that I have spoken with were not in favor of the ADU proposed ordinance," Flynn said in an email. As for Thursday's ordinance, the proposal would have given developers a density bonus that "did not seem to be in the best interest of the residents in Salem.

"The [inclusionary zoning] Ordinance was basically forcing developers to add affordable units but at the same time allowing a density bonus to stack more units and make more money," Flynn said.

At Thursday's meeting, Dibble tried to get the density bonus removed. He said Salem has seen lots of new luxury apartment construction which, combined with higher tax bills, is driving up Salem rents.

"I think growth is absolutely needed, but it doesn't have to be only luxury apartments," Dibble said.

Dominguez suggested Driscoll's housing efforts favor developers, not residents. "We've had 14 years of this administration and have no results. We have the opposite,"he said.

The split has caused tension and division on the 11-member body. At Thursday's hearing, Ward 2 Councilor said she would send people who can't find an apartment they can afford to "the councilors voting against this for rental leads in Salem." The following morning, At-Large Councilor Ty Hapworth took to Facebook to vent his frustration.

Hapworth said the inclusionary zoning proposal is now "dead" and called on the four councilors who voted against it to come up with a proposal "that will be more impactful than the options they voted against last night.

"When 4 councilors purposefully dismiss a half dozen plausible and impactful options, and then put forward unrealistic solutions not based in fact or approved by experts, we have an inability to legislate and function as a local government," he said.

Dave Copeland covers Salem and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).