Twenty-two cities and towns south of Boston have spent $16.8 million in extra property-tax money and state contributions over the past decade for affordable housing.
But a Patriot Ledger analysis of spending during that period shows 13 of those communities have created only one “affordable” home or none at all. (Read the full story here.)
A story ran in today’s Globe regarding efforts being made by Norwell’s Community Preservation Committee to proactively manage the development of affordable housing. Put another way – it is a way to cope with the threat of 40B housing.
The topic of 40B housing has percolated with regard to two Milton issues; the Temple Shalom redevelopment and the Governor Stoughton Land Trust. The committee appointed to review the Stoughton property has rejected any 40B housing option. The prospect of 40B housing on the Temple Shalom site has been mentioned as a possible result should the Planning Board vote down an overlay that would permit commercial development.
In short, MGL 40B allows a developer to bypass local zoning regulations and planning boards if 10% of a town’s housing inventory is not affordable as determined by the state (You can find the text of the law here). The result is typically a dense housing development that enables the developer to maximize the value of the property. Dense housing can potentially impact abutting property values, put a strain on town services, etc.
But Massachusetts has an issue with affordable housing. Namely, there is none. Massachusetts ranks 49th out of 50 states (see FAQ from Massachusetts Affordable Housing Education Initiative). MGL 40B which passed by 1 vote was the legislature’s attempt to address the issue here in Massachusetts. It has been controversial from the beginning.
from The Boston Globe
Affordable housing is forum agenda: CPA panel’s aim is to head off 40B projects
The Norwell Community Preservation Committee will meet today with two affordable-housing agencies to look at housing options for Norwell, a move that Town Planner Todd Thomas believes is long overdue.
“Norwell is in a deep hole when it comes to affordable housing, and if we don’t do it on our own, with some modicum of control, we’re going to continue being targets for 40Bs,’’ Thomas said. (Read the full story here.)
Letter from Kristine Hodlin, Chair, Library Board of Trustees
To Whom it May Concern,
At our meeting on Monday, August 11, 2014 the Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to have two trees in failing condition removed from the Library grounds.
The trees in question are a copper beech that sits front and center of the parking lot and a sugar maple that is in the front yard to the right of the front door as you face it.
The Master Plan Committee is in the final phase of drafting their report. The report will contain several months of research on specific topics concerning Milton’s future. (e.g. housing, commercial development, preservation, etc). There are certain specific questions that the committee seeks additional resident input on.
The first of a series of master plan events took place at Fuller Villages yesterday morning as Milton began the process of “planning its future and preserving its past”. The event was well attended, well run, and productive. Residents throughout town spent ~ 3 hours in reviewing, brainstorming, and discussing the goals and objectives that will eventually be distilled into a document that will guide Milton’s future development regarding commerce, open space, recreation, housing, transportation, and historic preservation.
The Master Plan Committee met last night at the Council on Aging to discuss the strategy, steps, timeline, and communication around the second phase of Milton’s Master Plan. Municipalities in the Commonwealth are required by law to have a master plan that guides the town’s development. Areas of focus include housing, traffic, historic preservation, economic development, open space, and public services.
Town Meeting members will assemble on Monday evening at the Charles Winchester Auditorium at Milton High School and deliberate on the 53 articles contained in the warrant for annual town meeting (Note: you can find the warrant online here.). It is a large number of articles. Most deal with the town’s budget (i.e. appropriations to be made to various departments). However, there are also a number of zoning articles, projects looking for funding, and presentations that could push town meeting to 4 nights or more.
The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency has granted an extension to the comment period for a proposed 40B development on Brush Hill Road. The proposal from Mill Creek to build 276 apartment units has met with strong opposition from the neighbors and local organizations including Friends of the Blue Hills, NepRWA, and The Wakefield Trust.
On Thursday, April 11, 2013, the Milton Public Library offers up a screening of the 1967 Paul Newman film “Cool Hand Luke,” as the last one in our spring series “Movie Masculinity.”
In a recent letter to the Milton Board of Selectmen, Carl Nold, President of Historic New England, recently announced that his organization had, for preservation, conservation and educational purposes,
