Once again, the Rockland City Council is proposing the introduction of tiny houses in everyone’s back yard or side yard as an answer to a need for affordable housing.

Although countless examples of surface water flooding throughout Rockland’s neighborhoods has been amply documented by former Rockland Community Development Director Rodney Lynch and others, the City Council has ignored these warnings and resurrected this proposal that was initially withdrawn in the face of a citizens’ petition and a lawsuit in 2019.

And yet, here we are again.

The real motivation behind homeowners’ requests for accessory apartments is a need for additional income to help pay Rockland’s notoriously high property taxes.

Rather than degrade Rockland’s neighborhoods by stuffing in tiny houses, I suggest that the City Council dedicate itself to reducing our property tax burden.

Richard D. Warner lives in Rockland