Responsible Growth & Development

People want to live in Lebanon! This is a good thing: it means Lebanon is just as great as we think it is. More importantly, a city where people don't want to live is a city without a future. But it does mean that Lebanon is growing and changing, and we have an obligation to ensure that this growth is managed thoughtfully and responsibly.

Initiatives that I support:

Pattern Zoning Amendment

This zoning amendment just passed, and I'm excited to see how it will help the housing landscape in Lebanon. In a sea of large apartment buildings and condos, this amendment encourages Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and infill housing in some of the most in-demand parts of Lebanon and West Lebanon. This initiative encourages construction of single-family homes, and provides an affordable alternative to high-density construction projects. It also empowers homeowners to make the best use of their properties to help support their families.

"Missing Middle" Projects

This has almost become a cliche, but like much of America, Lebanon needs projects that address the "missing middle"—housing that lies between detached single-family houses and large-scale apartment buildings. There are currently few economic incentives for these kinds of projects, so it will fall to the city to generate innovative plans (like Pattern Zoning) to fill this gap. Lebanon's "cottage cluster" project on Barrows Street will be a great test case, and I'll work to help generate and execute similarly innovative ideas to support the kind of housing growth we want in Lebanon.

West Lebanon Revitalization

West Lebanon's neighborhoods are some of the city's most desirable, but Main Street is still struggling to recover from its depression era. I have deep West Lebanon roots, and the rehabilitation of West Lebanon is a project close to my heart. Grants and city-state partnerships are starting to bring change to this neighborhood, and Lebanon needs to take advantage of this momentum and continue to focus on redeveloping West Lebanon. Main Street can once again be the community hub that it used to be, but we need to give it proper attention and support.