AMHERST — Nearly half of residents completing a survey focused on ways Amherst can produce more housing, especially for low- and moderate-income families and individuals, say they intend to leave town over the next five years, with a majority citing the high cost of buying or renting residential properties.

That is among the preliminary results of a survey on housing needs and preferences being revealed in advance of a forum to help shape the future of housing in Amherst, which was being held Tuesday at the Jones Library.

The session, which will run for about 2½ hours, was designed to encourage people to participate and share input as the town’s Housing Production Plan is updated for the first time since 2013. The plan is needed to facilitate the development and preservation of affordable homes, including housing that meets the requirements of the state’s affordable housing law, known as Chapter 40B. 

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities regulates these plans, which are required to be locally approved by the Planning Board and Town Council before being sent to the state. Plans have three elements: a comprehensive housing needs assessment, affordable housing goals and implementation strategies.

“An initial review of our survey results suggests that Amherst community members are deeply impacted by housing costs,” Greg Richane, Amherst’s associate planner and housing coordinator, said in a statement.

He pointed to the survey finding that 58% of the 472 respondents have experienced a housing cost burden from living in town at least once over the past year, and 39% are cost burdened on a consistent monthly basis. Housing costs, Richane said, affect how members of all ages plan for the future and are a significant factor in relocation and aging plans.

“Based on these factors, it’s not surprising that respondents prioritize a greater mix of price ranges for homes in Amherst,” Richane said.

In the survey, conducted during November, 45% of those participating say they are likely to leave town before 2030, with 58% of those people attributing this likely decision to leave to the high cost of housing. In a transient community like Amherst though, with a large population of college students, 40% of those intending to depart will do so because they have earned their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Still, 56% of those surveyed say it is important to stay in Amherst as they age, and 53% cite housing affordability as a necessary factor for them to stay. The top three housing initiatives identified are creating housing with a mix of price ranges; encouraging more housing options, choices and types across Amherst; and helping people stay in their current housing and community as they grow older.

The surveys are being supplemented with interviews, community forums and meetings of public committees.

Joining Richane at the Tuesday session at thwill be representatives from the Barrett Planning Group of Hingham, which has done some of the demographic, housing and market research. The set up will include educating attendees about the current Housing Production Plan and sharing ideas at various activity stations to shape Amherst’s future housing goals.

Pizza, snacks and drinks will be provided, as well as coloring activities and interactive materials for children.

Getting an updated Housing Production Plan in place comes as the town is embarking on several efforts to increase the housing stock, including working in partnership with local nonprofit developers and making zoning adjustments.

A development to soon get underway is Valley Community Development’s Amherst Community Homes in North Amherst, which will be owner-occupied duplexes, while Way Finders Inc. continues to go through the Zoning Board of Appeals for redevelopment of the East Street School and Belchertown Road properties into affordable apartments.

The town recently got concept plans for the VFW site on Main Street, coordinated by architecture firm The Narrow Gate, a combination of both supportive housing and a homeless shelter, and is hiring a consultant to examine possibilities for the South Amherst School on South East Street. An overlay district to encourage construction of apartments along University Drive continues to make its way through both the Planning Board and the Town Council’s Community Resources Committee.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.