Posted on May 11, 2016
SOMERVILLE --- For the second time in a week, a community that received technical assistance from MHP passed significant local zoning reform that will allow for more multifamily and affordable housing.
The latest community to pass zoning reform is the City of Somerville. On Monday, May 9, the Board of Aldermen approved changes to increase the amount of affordable apartments developers will be required to build.
The new inclusionary zoning law requires that develops of 18 units or more make 20 percent of the units affordable, with developments from eight to 17 units requiring that 17.5 percent be affordable. Read the Somerville Journal story for more details.
Monday's vote capped a two-year process of analysis, public meetings and discussion. MHP's community assistance team supported these efforts by providing a grant to the Somerville Community Corp. to help in its efforts to advocate for affordable housing and to help the city in its efforts to create more predictable zoning that preserves neighborhoods and promotes density in undeveloped areas.
MHP also supported the city by providing funds for a study that tested the financial feasibility of changing the requirements of the city's inclusionary zoning policy.
Last week, residents at Needham Town Meeting approved a special overlay district (shown above) for a commercial area east of Rt. 128 near the Newton line. The new bylaw allows for up to 250 apartments to be built within an industrial park area that includes many large employers like Trip Advisor.
Once again, MHP's community assistance team provided support and financial assistance to pay for a consultant who analyzed the fiscal impacts that new housing would have on the town and its schools. To read some of the reports and materials that were presented to the town, click here and read the content for Articles 18 and 19.
For more information about MHP's community assistance services, contact Carsten Snow at csnow@mhp.net.