Belmont’s MBTA Communities Advisory Committee has eliminated two of five rezoning scenarios proposed under the MBTA Communities Act.
The act requires towns such as Belmont, served by the MBTA, to create at least one zoning district of reasonable size where multi-family housing is permitted and that meets other criteria, including:
- A minimum density of 15 units per acre.
- Not more than ½ mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station.
- No age restrictions, and suitable for families with children .
In late January, the Massachusetts Area Planning Council presented five scenarios to Belmont’s MBTA Communities Advisory Committee, which included rezoning areas of town to create 716 housing units, 3,141 units, 2,151 units, 3,034 units, and 1,745 units, respectively.
According to Rachel Heller, co-chair of the Communities Advisory Committee, the committee reviewed the options and eliminated the ones that would have added 716 and 1,748 units.
“The committee recommended abandoning the first and last scenario because one of them was, I think, Waverley only,” said Heller. “And the second one was Belmont Center plus Upper Pleasant Street, and that was considered to be … not geographically inclusive.”
A community meeting was scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Beech Street Center.
“Once we can get a sense of the geographies that people are really getting behind … then the committee can further refine it,” said Heller. “We’ll come back to the public again in March to share our progress and to continue to hear more feedback as we then work with our technical assistance providers on drafting the zoning language and … putting that whole package together to hand over to the Planning Board.”
Belmont is one of 177 communities falling under the MBTA Communities Act. In an earlier story, Heller said the policy originated from affordable housing developers who view zoning restrictions as the greatest obstacle to creating more housing.
“Increasing the supply of housing at all income levels is a social justice issue, it is an economic development issue, it is a climate mitigation issue, and it is a climate adaptation issue,” said state Sen. William Brownsberger in the earlier story.
