Housing Headlines

NORTHAMPTON --- After a lengthy debate about the need for housing versus the impacts of more development, the Northampton City Council OK'd a zoning change that will allow two-family homes to be built throughout the city. As part of the package of zoning changes - which needs the signature of Mayor David Narkewicz to become law - all space heating in homes must be powered by wood, wind, solar or grid-sourced electricity.

SWAMPSCOTT --- The Town of Swampscott reiterated its determination to fight a 128-unit housing proposal after the state issued a site approval letter, allowing Winn Development to apply to the town's Zoning Board of Appeals for a Ch. 40B Comprehensive Land Use Permit. The 1.6 acre commercial site at 21 Elm Place is near the Swampscott commuter rail stop.

NORWELL --- Residents of a single-family subdivision built in 2014 are pushing a citizen's petition that is asking that land the town designated for affordable housing in 2004 be turned into conservation land. The petition comes as Norwell's Community Housing Trust is preparing to seek proposals to have the 6.3 acre plot developed into 24 units of mixed-income housing.

SUDBURY --- The Town of Sudbury and Quarry North Road LLC have concluded a land exchange agreement in which the developer will transfer 42 acres near the town's center to the town in exchange for 37 acres of town land that will be developed into 274 units under a Ch. 40R permit approved by the town in 2020. The agreement ends years of debate in which residents fought the developer's original plan to build 250 units on the town center land.

ROCKLAND --- With the planning board's recent approval, a series of zoning changes that would change an industrial area into a mixed-use district is headed for final approval by voters at Rockland's May 3 Town Meeting. If approved, a development in this area could include 164 housing units, an 80-room hotel, retail, restaurants, a supermarket, offices and a public plaza. The impetus for the change came from the A.W. Perry real estate company, which owns some of the land and came to the town looking to develop the area.

AMHERST --- Some 200 residents have signed a petition calling for a 180-day moratorium on new buildings with three or more residential units in several zoning districts, including downtown. The petition asks that the town do outreach to determine design standards and to amend various zoning requirements before creating what one resident described as more "slum-like" developments. Several town councilors objected, saying construction brings activity to downtown and helps it reach its goal of diversifying its housing stock.