Housing Headlines

STATE --- Adoption of the state's zoning reform in communities with or near MBTA service has crossed the century mark. According to Citizens' Housing and Planning Association, (CHAPA), the 100th community’s successful zoning vote came on Tuesday, 11/19, when Millis, Kingston, Ashland, Fitchburg and Lawrence each approved plans. Bellingham followed suit on 11/20. The law mandates multifamily zoning by right in 177 communities with or adjacent to MBTA service. Communities that fail to comply can lose eligibility for state grant programs.

MILLBURY --- A Millbury Special Town Meeting voted down an article that would have amended the town's zoning bylaw and zoning map to be in compliance with the state law. Residents at the meeting said they feared the zoning law could alter the character of the town and would relinquish the town's zoning to the state.

NEEHAM --- Town Meeting voted to adopt an expansive approach to compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities Act. The decision will create zoning that allows substantial building of multifamily housing near the town’s MBTA stations. The vote was 118-90. The next step is final compliance review by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the attorney general.

SOUTHBOROUGH --- By a vote of 281 to 273, Southborough voters approved an article to amend the zoning bylaw to include the MBTA Communities Overlay Districts (MCOD) during Town Meeting on Sept. 30. Planning Board member Marnie Hoolahan said 90 percent of the housing inventory is single-family homes. The average selling price is $1.1 million. “We don’t have a lot of diversity [in the housing inventory]. We don’t have townhouses, condominiums, condos, apartments. There’s really no place to downsize,” she said.

WESTWOOD --- Construction has begun on a 160-unit residential development in Westwood, one of the first multifamily projects to break ground in zoning approved under the MBTA Communities law. Petruzziello Properties, a subsidiary of Dedham-based Supreme Development, began foundation work earlier this month for the first building at The Block at 22 Everett St. The 22 Everett project includes 12,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Of the 160 residential units, 15% are income restricted.

MARBLEHEAD --- Residents shot down new zoning rules that would make it easier to build multifamily housing and comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law. Applause erupted as Town Meeting rejected Article 36 on a 377-410 vote. In doing so, Marblehead pushed back against the state’s Dec. 31 deadline to adopt zoning changes under the MBTA Communities Act. Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin spoke at length about state grants Marblehead could lose by voting no.