Town of Nahant Responds to Proposed Changes to Multi-Family Housing Guidelines for MBTA Communities

The Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Antonio Barletta wish to share their response to the State of Massachusetts regarding proposed guidelines for multi-family housing required of MBTA Communities.

The draft guidelines under consideration are:

• Define the minimum reasonable size of a multi-family zoning district as 50 acres, with at least 25 acres contiguous.
• The district may not be more than ½-mile from commuter rail, ferry, subway, or train station.

While supportive of the need for communities to provide multi-family housing, the Board and Town Administrator Barletta have written to Michael Kennealy, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

The letter states that Nahant, as one of the smallest communities in the state and one with significant wetlands, will be impacted by the new regulations far more than any other MBTA Community. The Town also requests an explanation of the decision-making process, and flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.