In Plymouth, the MBTA Communities Act requires the town to zone for additional multi-family units because it is adjacent to a transit center, and that’s the Kingston Commuter Rail Station. However, it does not require the housing to be built. Non-compliance with the legislation has consequences, as has occurred in Milton. But there are other penalties as well, according to Plymouth’s Planning Director.
WATD’s Bobbi Clark has more…
Planning Director Lee Hartmann, says the MBTA Communities Act, is a mandatory requirement, so you must comply…
“…and if you don’t, you will lose competitiveness in about a dozen grants. You will lose eligibility in about five others, and when we look at historically, over the last five years, that represents about five million in grants that the town has that we will no longer be eligible for.”
However, Hartmann emphasizes, the law says…
“…all you need to do is zone for the ability to have 2,807 housing units. The law does not say anything needs to be constructed.”
Two public forums have been held, “…and then a joint meeting with the Selectmen and the Planning Board to look at our options. The direction we’ve had from the community is to take credit for the multi-family housing that we’ve already seen has occurred.”
So, Hartmann says, taking credit for the multi-family we have…
“…multi-family at Pine Hills, multi-family at Colony Place, multi-family at Home Depot Drive, and multi-family at Cordage; we are taking credit for that multi-family already. We have overlay districts at some areas that need it; the units have been built or been approved.”
And, Town Meeting approval is necessary to create a new multifamily overlay district and Article 18 will be heard when the legislative body convenes on April 6th.
In Plymouth, Bobbi Clark, WATD News.
