Housing Headlines

SALEM --- For the third straight year, Mayor Kim Driscoll is filing a proposal to broaden rules regarding accessory apartments, hoping it will pass now that Gov. Baker's Housing Choice law allows measures like this to be adopted by simple majority rather than 2/3rds super majority. Driscoll's plan to expand the city's law beyond its current limitation to relatives and caregivers was defeated twice despite getting 7 yes votes and 4 no votes, one yes vote short of what was needed.

SWAMPSCOTT --- The Select Board has sent a letter to the state Department of Housing and Community Development objecting to WinnDevelopment's plan to apply to the town for a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit so it can develop a commercial site into 128 mixed-income apartments near commuter rail. Reflecting feedback from residents - 650 who signed a petition - the letter cited concerns about traffic, building size, location near a rail trail, and the developer’s communication prior to a public meeting it held to gather feedback from residents.

BELMONT --- The Belmont Zoning Board of Appeals has decided not to argue that the town has met one of the state's affordable housing requirements, clearing the way for a developer to proceed with an application for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit to raze a single-family home and build 12 four-bedroom apartments. Build Wise Belmont - an abutters' group - argued that the town had earned "safe harbor" from 40B because 1.5 percent of its developable land is being used for affordable housing. The town's analysis found it to be just over 1.2 percent.

KINGSTON --- Traffic, density, drainage, headlights, fire truck access, playground space, doing a survey for evidence of Native American activity, and questions as to why anyone would want to live there were among the concerns Zoning Board of Appeals members voiced during a hearing about a developer's bid to build 20 apartments. Members were encouraged that the plan now has four less units than originally proposed. "I think we’re headed in the right direction,” one ZBA member said. “If we continue to lose four units I think maybe in four meetings we might be able to get somewhere.”

CHATHAM --- Go big and create homes the Community Preservation Committee seemed to be saying as it recommended a $1 million contribution into the town's affordable trust, $200,000 more than town officials recommended and double previous years. The final figure that voters will consider at spring town meeting still needs to be ironed out but the CPC justified the increase, noting the need and plans to support two Habitat for Humanity homes, a housing feasibility study and hiring a housing coordinator.

NORWELL --- Building on the precedent of allowing its former police station site to be developed into 18 mixed-income apartments for seniors, Norwell is preparing to seek development proposals for a 24-apartment development on six acres of town land.