2022 04 28 - MBTA Communities — File 213637

MBTA COMMUNITIES ZONING April 28, 2022 www.somervillezoning.com

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development MBTA Communities Multi-Unit Zoning Requirements January 2021 Economic Development Bill New Section 3A of M.G.L 40A (the Zoning Act) 1. Requires that a “MBTA Community” have: • At least one (1) zoning district of reasonable size • Permit multi-unit housing by right • No age restrictions; Suitable for households with children • Minimum gross density of 15 dwelling units per acre • Not more than ½ mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, bus station, or ferry terminal. 2. An MBTA community that fails to comply with the standards is not be eligible for grant funds from major MA State programs: • Housing Choice Initiative • Local Capital Projects Fund • MassWorks Infrastructure Program 3. Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) must establish compliance guidelines.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development “MBTA Communities” Defined by M.G.L. 161A, sec 1 175 MBTA communities are subject to the new requirements of Section 3A of the Zoning Act

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development “MBTA Communities” Defined by M.G.L. 161A, sec 1 175 MBTA communities are subject to the new requirements of Section 3A of the Zoning Act 4 Types of MBTA Community • Subway or Light Rail • Bus • Commuter Rail • MBTA adjacent

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Compliance Guidelines DRAFT Compliance Guidelines (December 2021) • Compliance guidelines scale for MBTA communities with a higher level of transit service. Accepted Comments from Municipalities (March 31, 2022) Compliance Criteria • Reasonable Size: 50+ Acres • Multi-Unit: 3+ Dwelling Units • Suitable for Households with Children: No restrictions for age, unit size, bedroom count, size of bedrooms, or number of occupants • Unit Capacity: 25% of existing Dwelling Units

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Compliance Guidelines Requirements (Calibrated for Somerville) 1. One (1) Zoning District • Within ½ mile of a Transit Station (“Transit Area”) • At least 50 total acres • Contiguous (reasonably) 2. Housing Standards • Permit “multi-unit” buildings “by right” • Site Plan Approval OK; Special Permit NOT OK • Multi-Unit = 3+ DU • Capacity equal to or greater than 25% of existing housing • 9,067 existing or new DUs • Minimum gross density of 15 DU/ac • No standards allowed for: • Square feet of dwelling units • Number of bedrooms • Size of bedrooms • Number of unit occupants Neighborhood Residence (NR) Urban Residence (UR) Mid-Rise Districts (MR3-6)

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Land within Transit Area 416.2 ac Building Types Cottage Duplex Detached House Semi-Detached House Triple Decker Backyard Cottage 1 DU 2 DU 2 DU 3 DU 2 DU 3 DU 2 DU 3 DU 1 DU Residential Uses Household Living Group Living By Right Special Permit Build Out Capacity Dwelling Units Gross Density 11,814 18 DU/ac Standards Square Feet Number of Bedrooms Size of Bedrooms Number of Occupants n/a n/a n/a Regulated Neighborhood Residence (NR) Urban Residence (UR) Mid-Rise Districts (MR3-6) Preliminary Analysis: NR in Transit Area

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Preliminary Analysis: UR in Transit Area Neighborhood Residence (NR) Urban Residence (UR) Mid-Rise Districts (MR3-6) Land within Transit Area 77.7 ac Building Types Semi-Detached Triple Multiplex Apartment House Apartment Building Row Houses 2 DU 3 DU 4-6 DU 4-10 DU 4+ 3-10 DU Residential Uses Household Living Group Living By Right Special Permit Build Out Capacity Dwelling Units Gross Density 4,906 42 DU/ac Standards Square Feet Number of Bedrooms Size of Bedrooms Number of Occupants n/a n/a n/a Regulated

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Preliminary Analysis: MR in Transit Area Land within Transit Area 72.1 ac Building Types Apartment Building • MR3&4 • MR5&6 General Building • MR3&4 • MR5&6 Same density permitted for both building types Residential Uses Household Living Group Living Special Permit Special Permit Build Out Capacity Dwelling Units Gross Density 8,816 91 DU/ac Standards Square Feet Number of Bedrooms Size of Bedrooms Number of Occupants n/a n/a n/a Regulated Neighborhood Residence (NR) Urban Residence (UR) Mid-Rise Districts (MR3-6)

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development Nest Steps DHCD FINAL GUIDELINES to issue Summer 2022 • May 2, 2022 Present to City Council* • May 2, 2022 Submit MBTA Community Information Form to DHCD* * Required for Interim Compliance in 2022 • December 31, 2022 Submit Action Plan or file for a Compliance Determination • December 31, 2023 Zoning Must be Adopted OSPCD plans to propose an amendment that meets or exceeds DHCDs requirements by summer 2022. 1. Finalize Proposal 2. Receive Compliance Determination 3. Adoption by City Council