I am writing in support of the amendments to the Greenfield zoning code that will encourage the development and renovation of badly needed housing. Councilor John Garrett, the sponsor of the amendments, made a compelling case for these changes in his recent My Turn column in the Recorder [“Zone changes needed to solve growing affordability problem,” Nov. 8].

My wife and I are new homeowners in a neighborhood abutting downtown. We appreciate the wide range of housing types in our community and support making multifamily an allowed use in the nearby semi-residential districts.

There are two other proposed provisions I would like to highlight based on 35 years of experience running nonprofits — Metro Housing Boston and the Housing Partnership Network — that develop and finance affordable housing. The arbitrary limit of 25 units for a multifamily building makes new construction economically unfeasible. The proposed increase to 50 units is a reasonable change that will result in appropriately scaled development that can be financed.

Accessory dwelling units can be a modest but helpful enhancement to our housing supply that give greater housing options to residents. The proposed zoning amendment makes the required changes for Greenfield to remain in compliance with the new state ADU law. This should be an available option in neighborhoods like mine which have the land and housing structures that can make ADUs a good fit.

Prohibiting ADUs on lots smaller than a half-acre would effectively eliminate this option for Greenfield residents and is certainly a violation of the explicit intent and language of the new state law.

Thomas Bledsoe

Greenfield