[Massplanners] Update on Adoption of the Specialized Stretch Building Code

[Carolyn Britt]

All,

The update of the Stretch Building Code and the creation of the 
Specialized Stretch Building Code were developed in 2022 to support the 
Commonwealth in meeting its GHG reduction goals. The Specialized Stretch 
Code, applying only to new construction buildings, adds no new 
requirements for all electric buildings, but those continuing to use 
fossil fuels need to provide wiring for electric conversion, solar, or 
in some cases meeting higher design standards. The Specialized Stretch 
Code (SSC) was designed to be adopted as a local option, approved at 
Town Meeting or by City Council votes.

*So how has the SSC fared in the last year? *Since the window opened 16 
months ago to allow voting on adopting the SSC the*following communities 
have adopted it:*

Acton   Amherst   Ashfield   Ashland   Aquinnah   Arlington Bedford   
Belmont   Boston   Brookline   Cambridge   Carlisle Chelmsford   Concord 
   Dedham   Eastham   Hopkinton   Lexington Lincoln   Marion   Maynard   
Medford   Melrose   Milton   Natick Needham   Newburyport  Newton   
Northampton   Norwoood   Salem Sharon   Sherborn   Somerville   Stow   
Swampscott   Truro Wakefield   Watertown   Wellesley   Wellfleet   
Weston   West Tisbury   Worcester

You can see these communities are distributed around the state, but 
there are only three west of Quabbin. In all, these 44 communities 
represent almost *30% of the population of the state.*

*Have any communities tried to pass it and been unsuccessful?
*

Yes. These include only Ipswich, Orleans, and Boxford. Two communities 
failed to pass on the first try but were subsequently successful and 
listed above.Successes 44, losses 3.

I think that is a pretty good record for a new option that needs to be 
voted on at town meeting. It was a real challenge to try to explain 
building codes to a group at town meeting, even having laid the 
foundation before hand and having handed out information sheets at the door.

*Where from here?*

Any community seeking to pursue passage of the Specialized Stretch Code 
are in a good position:

     Excellent success rate of passage

     1-1.5 years of history in implementing the code in other 
communities so there is a track record that can be gathered from 
building inspectors, and others.

     A listserve of people who have been working on this in their 
communities and who support newcomers who are interested in passage (I 
can send your contact information on to them) This is a critical resource

*The challenges?*

There is a bit of an effort in communities to repeal the Stretch Code as 
the new requirements pertaining to large additions goes into affect on 
July 1. Essex and Rochester have repealed the Stretch Code, and there 
was a citizen petitioned effort in Ipswich to do so. The listserve 
mentioned above will be working with cities and towns on that issue 
should it arise in other areas, but you all need to keep an eye on this.

In today's Globe (5/30/24 - front page - "Climate efforts could face a 
lawsuit")  there is an article about the possibility of a lawsuit 
seeking to disallow restrictions on fossil fuels in building codes in 
MA. Keep an eye on this also.

Please feel free to contact me if you want to know what we did right - 
and wrong - in Ipswich, or if you would like to contact the listserve 
people.

Best wishes to all on this.

Carolyn Britt, AICP

Ipswich Climate Resiliency Committee

1 Shagbark Woods

Ipswich, MA 01938

978-356-9881 landline

978-317-2145 cell




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