Vote Yes on the MBTA Communities Act Article

As with many things relating to the current housing crisis and zoning, there is unfortunately a lot of misinformation relating to the MBTA’s Community Act. A lot of attention has been given to the minority that are indulging in that misinformation, but we should be focused on the law’s benefits coming from the actual facts of the law if we want Swampscott to have a brighter and more affordable future.

Town Meeting Members will vote at this upcoming annual meeting to pass an article that makes a minor change to our zoning by-laws for the area adjacent to Vinnin Square that already contains the vast majority of the town’s multi-family housing and one much smaller area between Essex St and the commuter rail tracks which is made up of a collection of warehouses to allow multi-family housing “by right”. Currently, in order to build multi-family housing in the very few areas of town it is even allowed, you need to go through a lengthy review and special permit process. This will simply remove the need for a special permit, but still require review. That’s it. No housing is required to be built under this law.

No “character” will be destroyed, no Town of Swampscott identity-ending changes will happen and Swampscott is still in charge of its own zoning. What this law does is show us a better path to allowing more housing in areas where it makes sense. If we want lower property taxes and improved levels of services, allowing for more housing is step one.

Passing this article, simply puts us in compliance with the law, but we do have a choice on whether we want to become a town that is stuck in the past or we become a town that our children are able to live in when they grow up too. Let’s take advantage of and expand upon opportunities like this if we want to have a brighter future.