Housing Headlines

QUINCY --- A city attorney told the zoning board of appeals that the state Housing Appeals Committee is likely to reject the ZBA's denial of a developer's request for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit, saying the committee weighs the need for affordable housing versus local concerns and that it is "a very high standard - one we cannot meet." B&D Property Management has proposed to build 40 apartments in Wollaston and has appealed the ZBA's denial to the state.

CHELMSFORD --- Even though it has a one-year safe harbor from Ch. 40B applications and it's supply of affordable housing is at 9.2 percent, Community Development Director Evan Belansky said the pipeline of new projects should under consideration should push the town over 10 percent, giving it safe harbor from Ch. 40B for years to come.

WALTHAM --- The state has denied the city's claim that is has complied with the state's affordable housing requirements, a safe harbor status the city was seeking in reaction to an application by Alliance Realty Partners for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit so it could build 195 units on Second Ave. Communities can achieve safe harbor by having 10 percent of its housing stock considered affordable (Waltham is at 7.2 percent) or have affordable housing on sites comprising 1.5 percent or more of the total land area zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use. The state found Waltham had not demonstrated that it had met the 1.5 percent threshold.

DENNIS --- Now that he's bought a second lot that allows him to provide road access to his five-acre parcel surrounded by homes, developer David L. Howes is seeking a special permit so he can build 28 two-bedroom mixed income apartments, a proposal that is not sitting well with some neighbors.

SANDWICH --- The town's Community Preservation Committee has voted to support a Cape-wide educational effort to teach local officials about ways to increase affordable housing, a show of support that will need final approval from spring town meeting voters. The vote came after a presentation by Laura Reckford of the Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape Cod. HAC is one of the nonprofits behind the Cape Housing Institute, which is modeled after MHP's Housing Institute for local officials.

SHELBURNE --- A recent housing survey done by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments found that 54 percent of Shelburne's households fall within federal income limits for affordable housing while less than six percent of the town's housing supply is affordable.