July 26, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Under the guidelines for a new multi-family zoning requirement for “MBTA communities” that have the benefit of commuter rail, ferry, bus, or subway services, the Town of Hingham is expected to potentially accommodate up to 1,490 units of this type of housing within at least one zoning district of “reasonable size” in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.
This housing cannot be age-restricted and must be suitable for families with children. “You can’t limit the number of bedrooms to reduce the impacts on the schools,” or infrastructure, Community Planning Director Emily Wentworth told the Select Board and Planning Board during a joint meeting Tuesday night.
This legislation was enacted as part of the Jan. 2021 economic development bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker as a way to address the state’s growing housing crisis.
While Hingham and other affected communities won’t be required to actually build that many units, they must have the potential to do so or risk losing certain significant state grants. There’s an ability to include some affordable units, but that is not mandated.
While Hingham’s current proportion of multi-family housing units is higher than many other communities — and much of it is located within close proximity of an MBTA service area — the town’s current zoning doesn’t allow these units “as of right.” These existing developments were permitted either through the special permit or comprehensive permit process.
Criteria include a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, with an overall minimum 50-acre land area requirement, and that 75 percent of the district(s) be situated not more than one-half mile from a commuter rail, subway, or bus station or ferry terminal.
Wentworth outlined various potential multi-family zoning district locations during what was the third presentation about this issue.
One proposed district focuses on the area near the Shipyard ferry terminal where Hingham has already permitted a significant amount of multi-family housing. “We also looked at several parcels at the corner of French and Hobart Streets that are presently being used as a nonconforming contractors yard,” she said. No decisions have yet been made.
Dec. 31, 2024, is the deadline for the adoption by MBTA communities of any required zoning amendments to bring them into compliance with the new law. Wentworth outlined the timeline for meeting this requirement:
- Initiate zoning amendments (Dec. 1, 2023 Submission Deadline)
- Hold public hearing (s) (January – March 2024)
- Town Meeting action (April 2024)
- Submit District Compliance Application to the Department of Housing & Community Development
Select Board Chair Liz Klein noted that there will be other opportunities for the public and town officials to comment on this issue and to ask questions.