Southampton’s Building Boom Brings Challenges
Although the downturn in the economy in 2008-09 caused building to come to an abrupt standstill in most cities and towns across Western Mass., Southampton was an exception.
“Building never came to a halt here, and new housing continues to go up,” said Ed Cauley, vice chair of the Board of Selectmen.
“Right now, there are four new subdivisions with 35 lots in various stages of development, plus a half-dozen single lots where new homes are being built; there is a lot of growth going on,” he continued, adding that the new homes are priced between $400,000 and $500,000.
Heather Budrewicz says 24 building permits for new homes have been issued this year in Southampton.
Town Administrator Heather Budrewicz agrees. “We’ve already issued 24 building permits for new homes this year. The market turns over very fast, and I don’t know of any new houses that are sitting empty,” she said, noting that, in 2009, 26 new homes were built; in 2010, the number increased to 32, and since that time, at least two dozen houses have been built every year.
In fact, Selectman David McDougall calls home ownership in Southampton “the dream,” explaining that, as people become successful, they want to build a home in the country on an expansive lot.
“But if you work in Springfield or the surrounding cities, your options are limited,” he said. “You can buy land in Montgomery or Huntington, but they are farther out and require longer commutes. Southampton is one of the last areas that is convenient to I-91 and has reasonably priced land that people can build a dream on.”
Cauley also cites Southampton’s location and adundance of land as attributes that have led to the town’s popularity, but said the school system, large amount of open space, and opportunities for recreation also attract homeowners, who often move to the town from Holyoke and Westfield.
“Route 10 runs through Southampton, and we’re close to I-91 and exits 3 and 4 off the Massachusetts Turnpike; we’re a bedroom community, but are close to Northampton and Easthampton, which have a lot to offer in the way of arts and restaurants,” Cauley said, explaining that residents are able to enjoy living in a rural atmosphere but also benefit from nearby shopping and entertainment venues.
“Southampton is a beautiful place. It’s picturesque, people are friendly, we have a great school system, the taxes are reasonable, and we provide good services,” he went on.
The town was once an agricultural community, and although there are still two working dairy farms, several equestrian operations, and a number of small farms, former farmland has become a prime focus for developers, and because there is so much of it, Cauley said the majority of lots in new subdivisions are at least an acre in size.
“Plus, we have 14 conservation areas that contain 600 acres. They range from 9 to 200 acres and are under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission,” Budrewicz said. “We also have three parks, including Labrie Field, which contains 19.4 acres and is a multi-field athletic complex that is so new, we are still waiting for the grass to reseed itself so the soccer fields can be fully utilized.”
Growing Pains
However, rapid growth in Southampton has led to significant financial problems as voters have repeatedly turned down proposals to increase taxes.
In July, a Proposition 2½ override was rejected by voters. Town officials were hoping to raise $1 million to avoid budget cuts, and said if the override was passed, $200,000 would have gone into two dwindling stabilization accounts and $40,000 would have gone into a fund to pay future employee benefits.
But it didn’t happen, and there have been repercussions, which include a change in the student/teacher ratio at Norris Elementary School. “It’s a very small school, and for many years the ratio of students to teachers was 17/1, which is what you find at many private schools,” Budrewicz said. “But this year, we had to change, and it is now 24/1.”
Town officials say they may also have to close the library, and although Cauley says the town’s police officers, firefighters, and other service providers are doing an excellent job, the growth in population indicates a need for more feet on the street.
“We’re a small town that is growing faster than other communities, and we would like to be able to do more, but we have been forced to tighten our belts,” he said.
McDougall said there has been significant controversy surrounding the budget, but what new residents often don’t realize is that the town spends $1.19 in services for every dollar it takes in, with 60% of the annual budget allocated for educational expenses.
The shortfall and differing opinions in the community led the selectmen to request a review of their budget process this summer by the Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services. The results were released last month, and state inspectors said the town is in a “vulnerable financial condition,” and noted that voters have failed to pass every Proposition 2½ override proposal on the ballot since 1991, although 39 override questions have been put before them during that time period, ranging from $1,500 to the recently requested $1 million.
In addition, a recent report from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission shows the number of housing units in Southampton grew by 47% between 1990 and 2010, and the population increased by 93% between 1970 and 2012.
And therein lies the problem, said McDougall.
“Proposition 2½ was passed in the early ’80s when the town’s population was between 1,500 and 1,900 people. At that time, the town was a small farming community, but since then it has become a bedroom community of about 6,000 people, and the budget has not kept pace with the growing cost of services,” he noted, explaining that the town is losing money on new homes.
“When new roads go in, they have to be plowed, which requires trucks and manpower. The police need to patrol these roads, but the police force has shrunk in size in the last decade due to a lack of funds. We only have one full-time firefighter, our chief, with the rest working part-time or on-call. People complain that we are slow to plow the roads, but we just don’t have the resources,” he went on. “Our Finance Committee has been advocating for an override to Proposition 2½ for six years to reset the financial equation, so it’s not a new problem, but one that has slowly grown. No one wants to pay more taxes, but we have gone from having $670,000 in our stabilization fund in 2007 to $90,000 today in two accounts, and although some people say we are mismanaging the money, it’s hard to do when you don’t have any.”
The Department of Revenue also noted the difficulty of balancing the town’s budget due to the shortfall, but recommended a number of changes, which the selectmen have begun to implement.
Moving Forward
However, town officials don’t expect the growth to stop or even slow down, and Cauley says the town is a great place to live because there is a lot to do, including activities staged by the school and a wide variety of sports teams for children.
Recreation includes fishing on the Manhan River, along with an endless number of hiking trails. “We’re in the foothills of Pomeroy Mountain, and hikers who go to the top can see UMass Amherst on one side and Mount Tom on the other side,” Cauley said, adding that other enjoyable venues include concerts at Conant Park held throughout the summer and fall, as well as the annual Celebrate Southampton event that evolved from the former Old Homes Day.
“One-third of the area that makes up Hampton Ponds is in Southampton, and we also have a Memorial Day parade with ceremonies that a large number of people march in,” Cauley told BusinessWest.
Residents also enjoy the Manhan Rail Trail, which starts on Coleman Road and continues through Easthampton into Northampton. In fact, it is so popular that a new greenway project is underway that would connect to the trail and extend in the opposite direction toward Westfield.
Charlie McDonald, chairman of the Conservation Commission, said a group called The Friends of Greenway has kept the idea moving forward over the past few years. The initiative involves purchasing 4.25 miles of old railroad track owned by Pioneer Valley Railroad and transforming it into a bike path.
Two years ago, after the section of rail corridor was appraised at $340,000, the Conservation Commission applied for and received a state Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity Grant. It will pay for 80% of the land, and the town will be responsible for the remaining 20%, which will come from Community Preservation Act funds.
“In November of 2012, 80% of the residents at a town meeting voted in favor of purchasing the track,” McDonald said, adding that the Mass. Department of Transportation has been supportive, and the town is currently in negotiations with the railroad to purchase the property.
After that occurs, officials will find a company to remove the rails in exchange for keeping and selling them. “The final step will be to develop a design for a permanent, paved trail,” McDonald said.
He believes the project will enhance quality of life in town and may lead to economic growth, because it will bring new people into Southampton. “This is a residential community, and many people like to bike and take their children with them. So the new trail will make it safer and give people a great place to exercise, as well as connecting the town to a variety of cities through a network of trails, he explained.”
Continuing Process
In short, although Southampton is primarily a residential town, it has a balanced slate of offerings. “We don’t have a lot of restaurants and businesses, but we have enough,” Cauley said.
McDougall agreed. “People move here to escape the noise and crowds in nearby cities,” he said.
Still, both say it is a mixed blessing, due to the budget situation. “People want a simple answer, but it’s a complicated issue, and it will take earnest, open discussions to solve it,” McDougall said. “But it’s not a new problem, and the dream of owning a country home with a long driveway in Southampton will continue.”
Southampton at a glance
Year Incorporated: 1753
Population: 5,792 (2010)
Area: 29.1 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $15.20
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.20
Median Household Income: $61,831
Family Household Income: $64,960
Type of government: Town Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Town of Southampton/Norris Elementary School, Big Y
* Latest information available
