The Ulster County Legislature’s Housing and Transportation Committee has postponed a decision on a proposal aimed at assessing county properties for potential tiny home developments. This initiative, introduced by Legislator Herbert Litts, seeks to address housing needs for homeless veterans and other vulnerable populations. The committee met on October 9, 2023, to discuss the policy but did not reach a conclusion.
Litts emphasized the urgency of the proposal, stating that constructing tiny homes on county-owned land could significantly reduce the county’s annual expenditure of approximately $13.3 million on temporary motel accommodations for the homeless. “Living out of a suitcase in not very nice accommodations and moving every 30 days was not a way to live and does absolutely nothing for a person’s self-esteem,” Litts, a Republican from Lloyd, remarked during the meeting. He expressed a desire to provide stable housing options to prevent individuals from being temporarily placed in motels across multiple counties.
Among the sites Litts suggested for tiny home developments is Paradise Lane in New Paltz, where an emergency communications center is currently under construction. He noted that the county is already working on running utilities under the Thruway to this center, which could facilitate the development of tiny homes.
Democratic committee members voiced their concerns regarding the feasibility of the tiny home concept. Chairman Jeff Collins questioned how this proposal differentiated from the county’s existing housing initiatives. Some members expressed apprehension that focusing solely on tiny homes might restrict other forms of housing development that could also be beneficial.
Legislature Chairman Peter Criswell stated that the proposal seemed to lack input from administration officials and department heads, suggesting a more comprehensive approach was needed. “I just think we have to have a holistic approach,” Criswell, a Democrat from Kingston, asserted.
Despite the pushback, Litts maintained that he had engaged in discussions with County Executive Jen Metzger and her administration regarding the proposal. He described the policy as “another tool in the county’s toolbox” for addressing housing challenges.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee opted to delay a vote on the proposal. Democrats Eric Stewart from Marbletown, Debra Clinton from Gardiner, and Greg McCollough from Kingston expressed their willingness to collaborate with Litts to refine the policy before it is presented to the full Legislature.
The discussion surrounding tiny homes highlights ongoing efforts within Ulster County to find sustainable solutions for housing its vulnerable populations. As the committee continues to deliberate, the potential for innovative housing solutions remains a pertinent topic in local governance.
