[Massplanners] Unproductive MBTA Districts

[Danielson, Stephanie]

Katrina,

Easton's district comprise 3 subdistricts where one district will be developed, one never in our lifetime and one that has potential. The district that is very unlikely to be developed only covers an existing 15 unit/acre multi-family complex. It started off much larger and was considered by the Planning Board and other more progressive members of the community to be a very desirable location for the zoning as it was in close proximity to retail, restaurants, services, conservation land and within three miles of the train station in the neighboring town. It was reduced in response to a well organized residential group that promised to get out the vote to vote against the districts if that subdistrict was not reduced and to get out the vote to support the districts if it was reduced.

The district that will be developed is in a commercial district that extends into the adjacent community. One of the landowners in that district plans to redevelop his property taking advantage of the MBTA Communities zoning.

The third district is an area that is also in close proximity to retail, restaurants, and services and within a couple of miles from the train station in another neighboring town. However, it is mostly already developed, including with the drainage system for a commercial plaza and is not on public sewer (the other two districts are).


Stephanie Danielson, AICP
Director of Planning & Economic Development
136 Elm Street
Easton, MA 02356
(508) 230-0641
www.easton.ma.us<http://www.easton.ma.us/>

[Logo]<https://www.easton.ma.us/boards_and_committees/tricentennial_committee.php>

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Town Planner via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 10:17 AM
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Subject: [Massplanners] Unproductive MBTA Districts

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Hello,
West Newbury is scheduled to vote on their proposed MBTA Overlay District next Monday, April 28.  I have been asked to compile a list of communities that have located their required MBTA district in an area that is likely not going to produce little or no new housing in the near future before the night of our town meeting.

Could you let me know of any other communities that have used this approach?   The examples of MBTA overlay district locations I'm looking for could be broken into the following categories:

  *   Thickly settled area
  *   Commercial/Industrial Development
  *   Existing Multi-family housing
  *   Etc.

We have located our overlay district on a 19 acre parcel with two buildings that is under agreement with a developer that would prefer to use the proposed MCMOD bylaw (if adopted).  If there was sewer, there is a potential to build more than required by the MBTA law.
I understand that locating the required district in these types of areas is acceptable and I do not mean to imply that it is wrong to do.  We want to be prepared with facts when answering questions from the public asking why we didn't consider locating the district in an area that would result in little or no new housing.

Thank you!

Katrina O'Leary, AICP
Town Planner
West Newbury
townplanner at wnewbury.org<mailto:townplanner at wnewbury.org>
(978) 363-1100 x125
Hours: Mon-Wed 7am-3pm

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