Multi-Family Zoning Requirements for MBTA Communities

[KCasiglio]

Will the requirements radically change communities?

I want to expand on this to again reiterate that not only is the MBTA communities act not destroying neighborhood character, it's a small course correction to the exclusionary practices of the past several decades that have decimated the character of most municipalities across the commonwealth.

In 1980, 20.2% of the state's residents made enough money to buy a home in Belmont. 15.3% made enough to buy a home in Wellesley. By 1990 that was already down to 3.2% and 1.9%, respectively. (source - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 1995). That is changing the character of a community. This is a very small, inadequate step towards course correction.

 

[themissinglink]

Implementation of MBTA Communities Law Continues with Filing of Emergency Regulations​

Communities that did not meet prior deadlines must submit a new action plan to the state, outlining their plan to achieve compliance, by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2025. These communities will have until July 14, 2025, to submit a district compliance application to the state.

Communities designated as adjacent small towns still have a Dec. 31, 2025, deadline to adopt zoning.

 

[themissinglink]

Needham rejects MBTA zoning compliance after town-wide vote

6,904 people voted down the zoning changes, while 4,914 people voted to keep in compliance with the law, according to the town clerk.

www.boston.com

 

[stick n move]

Clowns

 

[HenryAlan]

I'm surprised, I thought Needham was very supportive.

 

[stick n move]

Same.

 

[KCasiglio]

"No" supporters frequently stated that they aren't against compliance, they're against this specific plan because it was over compliant, which is true. They have until July to become compliant, so we'll see whether enough No voters were sincere in that or if it was just the boilerplate NIMBY language that it sounded like.