Housing Headlines

BELMONT --- The Belmont Zoning Board of Appeals has decided not to argue that the town has met one of the state's affordable housing requirements, clearing the way for a developer to proceed with an application for a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit to raze a single-family home and build 12 four-bedroom apartments. Build Wise Belmont - an abutters' group - argued that the town had earned "safe harbor" from 40B because 1.5 percent of its developable land is being used for affordable housing. The town's analysis found it to be just over 1.2 percent.

KINGSTON --- Traffic, density, drainage, headlights, fire truck access, playground space, doing a survey for evidence of Native American activity, and questions as to why anyone would want to live there were among the concerns Zoning Board of Appeals members voiced during a hearing about a developer's bid to build 20 apartments. Members were encouraged that the plan now has four less units than originally proposed. "I think we’re headed in the right direction,” one ZBA member said. “If we continue to lose four units I think maybe in four meetings we might be able to get somewhere.”

CHATHAM --- Go big and create homes the Community Preservation Committee seemed to be saying as it recommended a $1 million contribution into the town's affordable trust, $200,000 more than town officials recommended and double previous years. The final figure that voters will consider at spring town meeting still needs to be ironed out but the CPC justified the increase, noting the need and plans to support two Habitat for Humanity homes, a housing feasibility study and hiring a housing coordinator.

NORWELL --- Building on the precedent of allowing its former police station site to be developed into 18 mixed-income apartments for seniors, Norwell is preparing to seek development proposals for a 24-apartment development on six acres of town land.

EASTHAMPTON --- Noting that the city did not reach goals set in its previous housing plan, City Councilor Tom Peake warned that failure to achieve the goals it sets for its next plan could cause the city to lose key part of its population. "Easthampton has a long history of blue collar residents and it also has a long history, especially recently, of being a place for artists," he said. "If we become a community that is unaffordable to those populations, those are important contributors to our civic life that we could lose.”

BOSTON --- The leadership of the Legislature's Housing Committee will be different this year as both Rep. Kevin Honan and Sen. Brendan Crighton will have new roles. Honan, the longtime House chair, will head the Steering Committee while Crighton will co-chair Financial Services. Stepping into leadership roles on the Housing Committee will be Rep. James Arciero of Westford and Sen. John F. Keenan of Quincy. (paywall)