Myth: More housing = more pavement = flooding 

More housing = more people = greater strain on sewer and electric

Reality: 

• Fairport’s 2025 population is 4% smaller than it was in 2000 and 15% smaller than it was in 1970 (about 1000 people less! Existing infrastructure can handle lots more people.

• Infrastructure can't handle too much more rain (stormwater), though, and that's what climate change is bringing to our area.

• More housing doesn't mean more houses. It doesn't mean bigger houses. It just lets unrelated people live in the same house and have their own kitchens.  

How inclusive zoning with more housing could help:

• More housing = property tax cost shared by more residents

• More residents support a more robust downtown, with businesses that will be able to support infrastructure village-wide

• Focus resources on sustainable green solutions to stormwater management

• Multi unit properties use less energy per person than single family homes, saving energy and helping reduce the longer term infrastructure risks of climate change

Myth: More housing = more on-street parking and traffic

Reality: 

• Most of the parking is for people who work, eat and shop in Fairport but can’t find a place to live here

• Most traffic is people just driving through. They don't live, work, eat, play, or worship in Fairport; we're just in between places they need to go. 

How inclusive zoning with more housing could help:

• Pressure for development outside of the village may decline, reducing additional through-traffic that comes from sprawl

• More housing = more customers for the RTS Route 50 bus = more frequent service, allowing more people to ditch cars for convenient transit

• By increasing the local population, less people are too far to walk or bike to the village center, so we reduce car traffic and parking needs while keeping businesses hopping.

Myths:

• Multifamily homes = rental properties with landlords who don't take care of their property. 

• Too many “ugly” rentals will depress the sale price of my house 

Reality:

• The idea that rental units automatically mean poorer quality housing is false

• Large houses owned by aging residents who don't have suitable downsizing options often have significant deferred maintenance, and thus ownership is not a guarantee of curb appeal.

• Housing prices are set by the market (comparable properties, aka "comps": like schools, number of bedrooms, or pool, and # of buyers), not typically by type of resident neighbors.

How inclusive zoning with more housing could help:

• Permit adaptive reuse of large historic homes = invest in interior and preserve unique exteriors

• Variety of housing options makes the village appealing to a wider variety of buyers of all ages

• Increase the diversity of the village reflecting the county and preparing our children for a more diverse future

Myth: More people = more chance of unreliable residents = more crime

Reality: 

• Higher crime rates are more closely tied to concentrated poverty than to how many families live in one building

• Incorrect ideas about renters or “new residents” promotes prejudice and reflects poorly on our caring community

How inclusive zoning with more housing could help:

• More people in the neighborhood = more “eyes” on the street, reducing the risk of crimes of opportunity

• A wider range of ages in our neighborhoods provides a larger safety net for aging or at risk residents

• By working together toward a better future for our community’s children, we strengthen community bonds and networks of care, creating resilience

• Combating climate change improves air quality and other measures of community health 

• More people support more civic infrastructure; clubs, neighborhood groups, etc, creating more trust and mutual aid

Myths:

• Because Fairport is desirable, new housing developments will be too expensive for empty-nesters or new young residents. 

• As new wealthy residents buy, everyone’s assessment (and property taxes) will rise.

Reality:

• Lack of inventory means that houses that do come up for sale currently are very expensive, pushing assessments up

• Community housing needs are not being addressed with current housing supply

How inclusive zoning with more housing could help us:

• More options of building sites within already developed lots means a variety of creative, smaller, less expensive developments could “work” in the village

• Additional housing units will combat displacement that is happening now due to gentrification

• Basic supply and demand --> making more housing available means that prices for new houses will moderate