January
11
2016
NATICK --- Selectman Josh Ostroff pens a detailed column tracing Natick's housing history, how it once fought 40Bs and how it learned to use the law to gain greater control of its housing destiny.
January
11
2016
ARLINGTON --- Following a presentation of calculations by town counsel, the zoning board of appeals voted to declare that 1.53 percent of its land is devoted to affordable housing, which if approved by the state would give the town safe harbor and greater control over developers trying to build with Ch. 40B permits.
January
11
2016
BOSTON --- The Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded $40,000 in Planning Assistance Toward Housing (PATH) grants to Lynn and Rockland to help these communities meet their housing needs. Lynn received $25,000 to support the creation of three Ch. 40R Smart Growth districts while Rockland received $15,000 to create a Housing Production Plan.
January
11
2016
WORCESTER - The city's historical commission has voted to allow the exterior of the historic Vernon Theatre Block in Kelley Square to be modified to accommodate plans to convert the upper two floors into 10 apartments.
January
7
2016
TYNGSBORO --- Met with stiff opposition, developer George Psoinos is dropping plans to use the state's Local Initiative Program (aka friendly 40B) to build 48 age-restricted units on 4.5 acres. "I'm not going to force something down people's throats," he said. "We were trying to do a friendly thing that worked. It obviously didn't work out that way."
January
7
2016
UPTON --- The town's affordable housing trust is considering using Community Preservation Act funds to support an inclusionary zoning bylaw and the hiring of a housing consultant who would help the town manage its affordable housing activities.