Gov. Maura Healey pitches lawmakers on the Housing Committee on her five-year, $4.1 billion housing bond bill at a hearing on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. Photo by Chris Lisinski | State House News Service

The state is stripping Milton of a $140,800 coastal resiliency grant awarded only a month ago after voters there rejected a multifamily zoning package last week that was intended to bring the town into compliance with the MBTA Communities transit-oriented zoning law.

Housing Secretary Ed Augustus notified Milton Town Administrator Nicholas Milano of the decision Tuesday, according to a letter released by Augustus’ Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

“The law is clear – compliance with the MBTA Communities Law is mandatory. At this time, Milton is the only rapid transit community in Massachusetts that is not in compliance. If we do not all come together to build more housing, we will not be able to overcome our affordability crisis. We need every community to do their part,” Augustus said in the letter, saying the Healey administration was “deeply disappointed” at last week’s vote and noting the state had given the town $80,000 to pay for consultants to help local leaders craft the failed zoning plan.

Towns and cities that don’t approve multifamily zoning in line with the law won’t be eligible for numerous state grant programs. In the case of the grant revoked Tuesday, originally awarded by the Seaport Economic Council on Jan. 25, the money would have paid for design work for seawall and public access improvements on the Milton side of the Neponset River at Dorchester Lower Mills.

Augustus’ letter also indicates that the Healey administration is hoping to broker a new zoning plan that can pass muster with opposing forces.

“I look forward to meeting with you soon, as well as representatives of the Yes and No campaigns to discuss a path forward. The administration is hopeful that we can work together on a new plan that will bring the town into compliance,” he said.