Andover Planning Staff To Host Discussion About MBTA Zoning Law

ANDOVER, MA — The MBTA Community Zoning Law will be the topic of conversation at the upcoming Coffee with a Planner event hosted by Andover's Community Development and Planning Department.

The event will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Robb Center, located at 30 Whittier Ct. Members of the town's planning staff will be on hand for the discussions.

"Our goal is to reach as many residents as possible to provide background on the law and encourage them to get involved in the process to help shape a zoning district that reflects the community's values," Monica Gregoire, associate planner in the Andover Community Development and Planning Department, told Patch.

The MBTA Community Zoning Law was enacted in January 2021 to address a severe housing shortage in Massachusetts.

According to Gregoire, the law came about because Massachusetts found itself at a competitive disadvantage to other states due to the Commonwealth's home prices and rents, among the most expensive and fastest-rising in the nation.

The zoning law was designed to overcome a lack of zoning for multifamily development, meaning multiple units on one lot. Without this new housing, the Massachusetts economy will start to slow, according to experts.

The law requires that municipalities served by the MBTA have at least one zoning district comprised of at least 50 acres of land in which multifamily housing is allowed. The district must be located within .5 miles of a transit station, have a minimum density of 14 units per acre and provide housing suitable for families.

In March, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued an advisory about the importance of the law.

"Compliance with the MBTA Communities Zoning Law is not only mandatory, it is an essential tool for the Commonwealth to address its housing crisis along with our climate and transportation goals," Campbell said.

If communities fail to comply with the law, they will become ineligible for state funding for housing, economic development, infrastructure and transportation and may also face civil enforcement action or liability under federal and state fair housing laws, according to authorities.

In addition to the Coffee with a Planner session, Gregoire has invited residents to check out several resources about the law on the MBTA Communities Zoning page on the Town of Andover website.

Gregoire also encouraged members of the community to sign up to participate in Andover's MBTA Community Working Group and subscribe to the MBTA Communities e-mail list.