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Compact Neighborhoods Chapter 40R Chapter 43D Visualizing Density

Zoning & Permitting Tools for Smart Growth Housing

Overview

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• Background/Origins

• Overview of Concept

• Basic Requirements

• Incentives

• How to Participate

• Implementation

• Resources

• Q & A

Compact Neighborhoods

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• The Importance of Housing• The Massachusetts

Economy• Enabling Young

People to Remain in MA

• Different Needs across the State

• The Need for More Tools

Background/Origins

Compact Neighborhoods

Net density of 6 units/acre (Riverwalk, Concord)

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Overview of Concept

Compact Neighborhoods

Zoning Incentive Program

• Requiring…• 40R-Eligible Locations• Affordability Minimum• As-of-right Density

Minimum• Minimum District Size

• Offering…• Preference for State $• Potential 40B Relief

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TODAREA OF

CONCENTRATEDDEVELOPMENT

HIGHLY SUITABLE LOCATION

Compact NeighborhoodsRequirements: Eligible Location

Requirements: Affordability Minimum

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Compact Neighborhoods

Affordability…

• Applies to all Projects of 13+ units

• Must be dispersed across unit types

• SHI eligibility as “Local Action Units” under LIP

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Requirements: Minimum Densities*

Single-Family = 4 du/acre…Multifamily = 8 du/acre…* allowable; not mandatory

Compact Neighborhoods

~18 units/acre (4-12 Summer St., Manchester-By-The-Sea)

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Requirements: Zoning

Other characteristics of the zoning… Primarily residential but

can encourage mixed use No Moratorium/Bldg. Cap No Age Restrictions

Compact Neighborhoods

5.8 units/acre (5 units +retail on .86 acres), Pomeroy Commons, Amherst, MA

Requirements: Minimum District Size

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Compact Neighborhoods

Community

Year Round

Housing Units

1% / threshold

Worcester 74,383 500*Shrewsbury 13,919 139Webster 7,788 78Southbridge 7,517 75Westborough 7,304 73Grafton 7,160 72Auburn 6,808 68Holden 6,624 66Northbridge 6,144 61Millbury 5,592 56

Community

Year Round

Housing Units

1% / threshold

Oxford 5,520 55Northborough 5,297 53Uxbridge 5,284 53Spencer 5,137 51Charlton 4,774 48Dudley 4,360 44Leicester 4,231 42Sturbridge 3,759 38Blackstone 3,606 36Sutton 3,324 33

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Requirements: Minimum District Size

Compact Neighborhoods

Community

Year Round

Housing Units

1% / threshold

Douglas 3,147 31Rutland 2,913 29Upton 2,820 28West Boylston 2,729 27Hopedale 2,278 23Warren 2,202 22Barre 2,164 22Mendon 2,072 21North Brookfield 2,014 20Boylston 1,765 18

Community

Year Round

Housing Units

1% / threshold

Paxton 1,590 16West Brookfield 1,578 16Brookfield 1,452 15Princeton 1,324 13Hardwick 1,185 12Berlin 1,183 12Millville 1,157 12East Brookfield 888 9Oakham 702 7New Braintree 386 4

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Compact Neighborhoods

Incentives

• Preference for state $• Massworks• CDBG (pending)• In discussons w/ EEA &

MassDOT

• Potential 40B Relief• Consideration as

“Previous Municipal Action”

• Examples under 40R• Implementation & Timing

4 units/acre; 12 units on 2.93 acres (Thankful Chases, Harwich)

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The Process / How to Participate

Give us a call! Recommend site visit/

pre-application mtg. Submit an application DHCD Letter of Eligibility Local Zoning Adoption Evidence of Adoption DHCD Letter of Approval Local Project Approval

Compact Neighborhoods

DHCD Implementation / Resources

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Compact Neighborhoods

• Website…

www.mass.gov/hed/compactneighborhoods

• In discussions with a dozen or so communities

• Will publish sample zoning & promotional materials

• Eligible activity under Priority Development Fund

• Hope to work closely w/ RPAs

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Chapter 40R

vs. Compact Neighborhoods

• Requires more affordability (20% minimum)

• District-wide affordability

• Must allow higher densities…

Single-family: 8 units/acre

2-3 Family: 12 units/acre

Multifamily: 20 units/acre

• Direct funding:

$10K-$600K Zoning Incentive Payment upon based on District size

$3,000/unit Density Bonus Payment

Eligibility for school-cost reimbursement $ (Chapter 40S)

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Chapter 43D

Local Expedited Permitting Program

CREATE: Prompt & Predictable Permitting• Designated Priority

Development Sites (PDS)

• 180-day streamlined permitting

• Single point of contact

• Identify & promote targeted sites

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Chapter 43DLocal Expedited Permitting Program

Municipality expresses interest in the Chapter

43D Expedited Permitting Program

Municipality identifies one or more Priority

Development Site (PDS)

Municipality identifies site(s) and partners

with land owner(s)

Brings petition before City Council OR Town

Meeting

Majority approves petition

Municipality submits Chapter 43D

Application to the Interagency Permitting

Board

Interagency Permitting Board renders a decision within

60 days

Approval of a PDS triggers 120-day

implementation period for municipality to

establish an expedited permitting system

Following the implementation period, municipality required to render local PDS

permitting decisions in 180 days or less.

2012 Awards

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MassWorks Infrastructure Program

• Over 130 applications were submitted, requesting more than $323M

• MassWorks awarded 26 infrastructure grants totaling $38.5M

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Visualizing DensityDesign Matters

• Different typologies

• Similar densities

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Visualizing DensityDensities & Typologies

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Visualizing Density

Examples: Single-Family

• 3.73 units/acre• 28 cohousing units on 7.5

acres• Northampton, MA

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• 5.8 units/acre

• 16 units on 2.75 acres

• Wayland, MA

Visualizing Density

Examples: Multifamily

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Visualizing Density

Examples: Multifamily

• Example: townhomes at 9.88 units/acre

• 45 units, with 2,333 sf of open space per unit

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• 10 units/acre (net density)

• 120 units on 12 acres of developed land

• Lincoln, MA

Visualizing Density

Examples: Multifamily

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Visualizing Density

Resources

• Visualizing Density (www.lincolninst.edu/)

• Demistifying Density (www.designadvisor.org/)

• Higher Density Development: Myth & Fact (www.uli.org)

• Creating Great Neighborhoods: Density in Your Community (www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/density)

• www.urban-advantage.com

• Local Historical Society

• http://factfinder.census.gov/

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Thank You!

Bill Reyelt / Elaine Wijnja

Dept. of Housing & Community Dev.100 Cambridge St.

Boston, MA 02114

617.573.1355/1360william.reyelt@state.ma.us / elaine.wijnja@state.ma.us

Compact Neighborhoods & 40R