Residents in Milton voted “no” Wednesday on a controversial new plan that encourages the development of multifamily housing in areas of the Massachusetts town near public transit, according to preliminary results.A total of 177 communities are subject to the requirements of the MBTA Communities Law, which was passed in January 2021 under the administration of former Gov. Charlie Baker with near-unanimous support from the Massachusetts Legislature.The law requires MBTA communities to establish multifamily zoning no more than half a mile from a commuter rail station, ferry terminal, or bus station, and the zoning districts must have no age restrictions and must be sustainable for families with children. The Mattapan trolley line runs along Milton’s northern boundary with Boston.”You will see more dense housing in some of those areas, definitely,” said Tom Callahan, who is with the Yes on Committee. In December 2023, Milton Town Meeting voters approved zoning changes that allow for more multifamily housing so that the town can comply with the MBTA Communities Law.But a grassroots campaign that opposed an article that was passed in the Town Meeting drew thousands of signatures, setting up a special election.”We need to do something to address the regional housing crisis. Milton has a housing crisis. Our average single-family home is $1.1 million,” Callahan said.Opponents say the plan, which could increase housing units by up to 25 percent in Milton, is unfair — particularly to the neighborhood of East Milton, where a commuter parking lot could become an apartment building with 530 residences. “And this would push us in a more dense… very, very dense new type of town,” said Denny Swenson, who is with the No Campaign. Gov. Maura Healey has already threatened to cut state funding if Milton votes “no.”According to the unofficial results from Wednesday’s town-wide referendum, there were 5,115 Milton residents who voted “no” while 4,346 others voted “yes.””There is no greater priority than making housing more affordable in this state. Today’s vote is disappointing, but we will continue to make the case for every community to embrace the opportunity that comes with creating more housing and making it more affordable for all,” Healey said in a statement.”The Healey-Driscoll administration is deeply disappointed that Milton’s zoning plan was rejected. This is not only a loss for Milton but for our entire state, as we desperately need more housing near transit to lower costs,” Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus said in a statement. “While we are hopeful that we can work with the town to put forward a new plan that would bring them into compliance with the MBTA Communities Law, at this time they are non-compliant, which means they will begin losing out on significant grant funding from the state.””Sooner or later I think we’re going to end up seeing some form of litigation where someone’s going to challenge this on constitutional grounds,” said George McCarthy, of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.In his statement, Augustus said 175 Massachusetts communities are in compliance with the MBTA Communities Law.The Healey-Driscoll administration said the MBTA Communities Law is one of how it’s creating more housing to control rising costs. Another way is a housing bond bill filed by Healey in October 2023 which is known as the Affordable Homes Act. With $4 billion in capital spending authorizations, the bill is expected to create or save nearly 70,000 homes.
Residents in Milton voted “no” Wednesday on a controversial new plan that encourages the development of multifamily housing in areas of the Massachusetts town near public transit, according to preliminary results.
A total of 177 communities are subject to the requirements of the MBTA Communities Law, which was passed in January 2021 under the administration of former Gov. Charlie Baker with near-unanimous support from the Massachusetts Legislature.
The law requires MBTA communities to establish multifamily zoning no more than half a mile from a commuter rail station, ferry terminal, or bus station, and the zoning districts must have no age restrictions and must be sustainable for families with children.
The Mattapan trolley line runs along Milton’s northern boundary with Boston.
“You will see more dense housing in some of those areas, definitely,” said Tom Callahan, who is with the Yes on Committee.
In December 2023, Milton Town Meeting voters approved zoning changes that allow for more multifamily housing so that the town can comply with the MBTA Communities Law.
But a grassroots campaign that opposed an article that was passed in the Town Meeting drew thousands of signatures, setting up a special election.
“We need to do something to address the regional housing crisis. Milton has a housing crisis. Our average single-family home is $1.1 million,” Callahan said.
Opponents say the plan, which could increase housing units by up to 25 percent in Milton, is unfair — particularly to the neighborhood of East Milton, where a commuter parking lot could become an apartment building with 530 residences.
“And this would push us in a more dense… very, very dense new type of town,” said Denny Swenson, who is with the No Campaign.
Gov. Maura Healey has already threatened to cut state funding if Milton votes “no.”
According to the unofficial results from Wednesday’s town-wide referendum, there were 5,115 Milton residents who voted “no” while 4,346 others voted “yes.”
“There is no greater priority than making housing more affordable in this state. Today’s vote is disappointing, but we will continue to make the case for every community to embrace the opportunity that comes with creating more housing and making it more affordable for all,” Healey said in a statement.
“The Healey-Driscoll administration is deeply disappointed that Milton’s zoning plan was rejected. This is not only a loss for Milton but for our entire state, as we desperately need more housing near transit to lower costs,” Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus said in a statement. “While we are hopeful that we can work with the town to put forward a new plan that would bring them into compliance with the MBTA Communities Law, at this time they are non-compliant, which means they will begin losing out on significant grant funding from the state.”
“Sooner or later I think we’re going to end up seeing some form of litigation where someone’s going to challenge this on constitutional grounds,” said George McCarthy, of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
In his statement, Augustus said 175 Massachusetts communities are in compliance with the MBTA Communities Law.
The Healey-Driscoll administration said the MBTA Communities Law is one of how it’s creating more housing to control rising costs. Another way is a housing bond bill filed by Healey in October 2023 which is known as the Affordable Homes Act. With $4 billion in capital spending authorizations, the bill is expected to create or save nearly 70,000 homes.