By Carol Britton Meyer

Voters supported the warrant article that would amend Hull’s zoning bylaws to comply with the MBTA Communities Zoning Act Wednesday night on a 172 to 74 vote following a 90-minute discussion.

The state is requiring as-of-right zoning to be established for multi-family housing near public transportation for communities served by MBTA to help address the state’s growing housing crisis.

While a substitute motion offered by Cindy Borges to refer the article to further study did not pass, a number of residents spoke in favor of the substitute motion and then addressing the issue again at a special town meeting in the fall, prior to the December 2024 deadline for communities to meet the requirements of this new legislation.

While the town is not required to actually provide such housing, failure to approve this article would have adversely affected the town’s ability to apply for and be awarded significant grant funds.

“Millions of dollars are at stake, including grants for our roadways and seawalls,” Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly said.

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. However, the land cannot be owned by the town or located in a floodplain. Even though this housing is by right, site plan review can be required to guide a potential project with respect to traffic and other considerations.

Following discussions with the state, Hull was granted some relief, reducing the required acreage from 50 to 7, and the requirement that the multi-family zoning be located within one-half mile of the ferry terminal also was removed and the required number of units reduced from 750.

The parts of town identified for rezoning to meet the criteria outlined in the legislation are near 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.

“These areas were chosen to try to limit development potential under this legislation while still meeting the requirements,” Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio said.

Resident Danielle Dolan said the main point of the article “is not about the state forcing the town’s hand, but that Massachusetts is in [the middle] of an incredible housing crisis. We need to trust our elected state and local officials in the room tonight who have done a good job looking at the impacts. The time to act is now.”

Advisory Board Chair Jason Frady noted that the town just heard back from the state on its most recent proposal “and accepted the plan pretty much as it is.”

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