Housing Headlines

NATICK --- A mixed-use development for the former St. Patrick's Parish property in downtown Natick may be reaching the finish line as as the town's Zoning Board of Appeals and the developer have scheduled meetings to review plans on May 31 and June 9. Stonegate Group has applied to the town for a Ch. 40B permit to to create a mixed-use, mixed-income project that would include a new building with housing above retail.

MONTAGUE --- At May Town Meeting, Montague voters overwhelmingly OK'd two zoning districts for mixed-income housing in downtown Turners Falls, the Greenfield Recorder reported. Voters OK'd the use of a state program known as Ch. 40R, which incentivizes communities to create zoning that promotes dense residential mixed-use neighborhoods near transit and town centers. This is the first time a community in Franklin County has adopted 40R, according to Alyssa Larose, the county's housing development director. This 2021 news story has more details on the zoning districts.

MILTON --- A group of Milton residents announced recently the formation Affordable Inclusive Milton (AIM), which will advocate to increase the amount of affordable housing in Milton and promote a racially and economically diverse population throughout the town.

Two Cape organizations - one dedicated to affordable housing and the other to protecting the Cape's natural resources - have joined together to launch "Grow Smart Cape Cod," an interactive mapping project that uses data and GIS technology to identify priority areas for natural resource protection and multifamily affordable development. To check it out, go to www.growsmartcapecod.org.

NORWELL --- Norwell residents who want to build an accessory dwelling unit now can do so by right after residents approved a change to the town's zoning bylaw. The change only required a simple majority thanks to a new 2021 state law that reduced the voting threshold from two-thirds to one-half for for certain housing and housing-related zoning votes.

MANCHESTER --- Already known for having more downtown housing than other small communities, Manchester may be well-positioned to comply with the state's new multifamily requirement for MBTA communities, according to Sue Brown, the town's planner. At a recent briefing with the select board, Brown said the downtown's 100-acre zoning district is located within the required half-mile distance from the town’s MBTA commuter rail stop. “I think we can embrace the goals of protecting the town’s character and its natural resources and really promote housing where it’s most appropriate,” she said.