Milton Zoning Vote Postponed Despite Snow Storm Fizzle
Milton residents were originally scheduled to hit the polls today to vote on overturning or keeping a transit-oriented zoning package approved by Town Meeting late last year.
If You Rezone It, Will They Develop?
Brokers and developers say opportunities for the kinds of large-scale projects that would move the needle on Massachusetts’ housing shortage are few and far between under rezonings completed so far under the MBTA Communities law.
Paving the Path to Permitting
For real estate developers pursuing projects in Boston, the road to approval often leads through McDermott, Quilty, Miller & Hanley partner Joseph Hanley’s State Street offices.
No Rapid Path to Housing Boom After MBTA Rezoning
A vital ingredient in generating more housing across Massachusetts is moving forward in several municipalities ahead of an end-of-year deadline. But that doesn’t mean there’s suddenly a silver bullet for housing creation, developers say.
Braintree Rezones 204 Acres Near Greenbush, Red Lines
Braintree Town Councilors approved a new zoning...Banker & Tradesman’s Editorial Cartoon: Or Else
Gov. Maura Healey’s got her hands on the big valve that controls state grants to local governments as the first big MBTA Communities zoning deadline nears.
Milton the Latest to Pass MBTA Communities Zoning
The number of towns and cities required to have transit-oriented zoning in place by Dec. 31 just ticked up by one: Milton.
Healey Pledges to Enforce Rezoning Mandate
Pledging to take enforcement “very seriously,” Gov. Maura Healey said Thursday that her team will not hesitate to block some state funding for cities and towns that fail to comply with mandatory zoning reforms.
Newton Passes Slimmed-Down Multifamily Zoning Package
Newton city councilors approved a plan 21-2 Monday night that still exceeds the minimum number of units required under state law.
Plans for Newton Train Stations Up the Ante in Zoning Debate
Newton city councilors are facing pressure to scale back plans to rezone the community’s 13 commercial nodes for more multifamily development to comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law, but one of the mooted suggestions could come at a cost: plans to revamp its commuter rail stations.
The Transit Zoning Rules that Matter
What rules to municipalities have to follow in complying with the MBTA Communities transit-oriented zoning law? What deadlines matter? Who decides if a town is doing the right thing?
Medford to Rezone Wellington Area, and Maybe More, Under State Law
Medford officials will consider whether to rezone properties at and around the MBTA’s Wellington station to comply with the MBTA Communities law encouraging multifamily development near transit.
Brookline Overwhelmingly Approves Housing Plan
Voters approved zoning amendments that could spur redevelopment of Brookline’s main commercial corridor from low-rise retail buildings to multifamily housing complexes.
Research Finds Apartment Bans’ Racist Roots
A look back at 100 years of land-use history in Greater Boston raises questions about how much progress the state can make if Beacon Hill continues its extreme deference to local control over certain housing issues.
Not All Smooth Sailing as Housing Zoning Deadline Looms
Gov. Maura Healey has an ambitious plan to tackle the state’s housing crisis. But some recent developments in Boston’s suburbs and exurbs should raise concerns about the willingness on part of some local communities to embrace the governor’s call to action.
Report Seeks Zoning Roots of Boston Segregation
A prominent researcher who spent a year combing through archived municipal planning documents, state reports and local media accounts of land-use debates in Greater Boston says it’s clear many suburban areas have used zoning as a tool to exclude for over 100 years.
The Shape of Things to Come?
Perched at a gateway intersection to the Newtonville neighborhood, Mark Development’s Trio apartment block is a Rorschach test for competing visions of Newton’s future.
Newton Scales Back Transit Zoning Plans
The latest version of Newton’s upzoning plan shrinks the size of buildings and the number of parcels where new housing will be allowed. But officials still think the plan can pass muster under the state’s MBTA Communities zoning reform law.
Advocates, Legislators Line Up to Back YIMBY Bill
The state legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing heard a parade of testimony from housing advocates, their colleagues and ordinary voters in support of a bill that aims to supercharge zoning reforms statewide.
Zillow Poll: Most of Boston Metro OK with Adding Density Nearby
A new poll conducted by listings portal Zillow finds many Greater Boston residents back the idea of adding density to their particular neighborhood, including over half who back buildings with up to 10 units.
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