The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently released final guidelines for multi-family zoning requirements for the MBTA Communities Act. During the comment period earlier this year, nine Newton City Councilors (Albright, Lipof, Downs, Crossley, Bowman, Kelley, Noel, Humphrey, and Kalis) submitted comments that:
- Supported the 25-50 acre size requirement but suggested that DHCD revisit this requirement after a few zones are implemented;
- Supported the 15 units/acre requirement for minimum density;
- Offered several suggestions such as bolstering resources dedicated to helping communities plan and increase housing without overbuilding parking;
- Suggested that location of the zoning districts allow for connections to transit on foot and bicycle; and
- Suggested that new zoning should encourage high-level building energy performance standards.
DHCD has categorized Newton as a Rapid Transit Community (see Appendix 1 MBTA Community Categories and Requirements). As a Rapid Transit Community (shaded dark blue on the map), Newton must submit a compliance application by the end of 2023 or submit an action plan by the end of January 2023 to receive Interim Compliance. Compliance is achieved when an MBTA Community adopts a multi-family zoning district that meets all the requirements of the compliance guidelines and is certified by DHCD. Applications will become available in November 2022.
Amy Sangiolo has prepared this summary of the DHCD’s final guidelines (PDF).
