Town risks loss of state grants if proposed MBTA Communities zoning plan fails at town meeting

By Carol Britton Meyer

The town stands to lose a significant amount of money in state grants for various projects if voters at Monday’s town meeting fail to approve the MBTA Communities zoning in warrant Article 30, according to Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio.

State legislation passed in 2021 requires the establishment of as-of-right zoning for multi-family housing near public transportation in communities that benefit from MBTA ferry, bus, commuter boat, or subway service to help address the state’s growing housing crisis.

“Millions of dollars of grant funding is on the line,” DiIorio said. Having potentially millions of dollars of grant money at stake is “a good selling point” for passage of the article, resident Pat Finn’s commented.

DiIorio made a presentation at this week’s select board meeting at the request of a number of citizens who find the issue confusing and sought clarification before the vote. The advisory board is recommending favorable action on the article, but the planning board this week voted to recommend further study. (See related story.)

Hull is required to provide zoning capacity to produce 586 multi-family units by right, at a density of 15 units per acre, with no age restrictions allowed.

By comparison, DiIorio noted that some existing condominium developments have more than 30 units per acre.

The land cannot be owned by the town or located in a floodplain. However, the affected communities themselves are not required to actually provide that housing.

“Even though this housing would be by right, site plan review can be required to guide a project with respect to traffic [and other considerations],” DiIorio said.

Following discussions with the state, Hull was granted some relief, reducing the required acreage from 50 to 7, but without reducing the number of required units. The requirement that the multi-family zoning be located within one-half mile of the ferry terminal was also removed and the required number of units reduced from 750.

The proposed areas to be rezoned in the warrant article are part of the area around West Corner, including the construction lot abutting the site of the former Worrick Mansion, and the Nantasket Beach and Atlantic Hill areas, where condominiums that would count have already been built, among other possibilities in those parts of town.

“Affordable housing units can be required, but [the number is] capped at 10%,” DiIorio said.

MBTA communities must comply with the new regulations by December 2024 or risk losing the grants, although some municipalities, including Milton and Marshfield, are challenging the requirement.