Town Meeting is fast approaching and as many of you know, residents will once again be called on to approve zoning changes that would add approval for over 1300 new units in town.
These zoning changes are mandated by the MBTA Communities Act, a state law which our legislators all approved. While we are required to make plans to comply with this law, the law does NOT mandate where and how this is done.
The town’s plan to meet this requirement is completely off base with the sentiment of residents, who have time and again over the past several years told town officials that they need to slow down with the pace of development.
The Town’s Plan:
Approves more units than are required by the law.
Approves more acreage than is required by the law.
Includes commercial mixed use zoning, the law only requires residential zoning.
Puts these units in places that are already over developed (Osgood Landing) or serving other important purposes (Market Basket).
Most importantly, it is completely permissible under the law that we can simply OVERLAY the required MBTA zoning over already constructed, high density developments in town.
The town is representing this as the only option because they want to see these units built!
The cement on the latest developments in town is not yet dry and town leadership is already getting ready to come at us with more units. Responsible people with an eye towards the future livability of our town would wait to see the full effects of development in town before they pushed another mega-development project.
OTHER ISSUES:
MBTA Zoning will be “BY RIGHT” and will trump our Inclusionary Zoning bylaw, meaning this zoning will produce less affordable units.
The MBTA Communities law is currently being litigated, if found to be unconstitutional we will have zoned 1300+ high density units for no reason, which would be almost impossible to change.
To that end, we will be recommending a no vote on ARTICLE 28 at Town Meeting and mobilizing people to attend the meeting. THIS CAN ONLY BE STOPPED AT TOWN MEETING!
Please attend & bring your friends on Tuesday, May 14, 6:30PM at NAHS