To see if the Town will vote to adopt a resolution affirming affordable housing overlay districts; or take any action related thereto.

(Inserted at the request of Guillermo Hamlin and ten registered voters)

(5 - 0)

The Select Board supports this resolution affirming an important recommendation of the Arlington Housing Production Plan, previously approved by this Board and the Arlington Redevelopment Board.  Among the potential tools available to address the Town’s commitment to creating affordable housing, the Affordable Housing Overlay District is an effect measure for encourage the development of affordable housing within identified areas in Town.  The specific details of an overlay ordinance are expected to be discussed and debated in future town meetings, but the Board recommends this resolution as a means of affirming that this tool is important for achieving the Town’s goals.

That Town Meeting does and hereby resolves as follows:

WHEREAS, Eighty-eight percent of Arlington’s housing units (all types) were built prior to 1980; and 

WHEREAS, Arlington residents participating in the 2020 Housing Production Plan community engagement sessions consistently expressed issues with housing instability and a need for more affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, the shortage of affordable housing in Arlington harms very-low, low, moderate, middle, and upper-middle income residents, especially renters; and

WHEREAS, the Arlington Housing Plan 2022 recommended but did not explicitly endorse the Affordable Housing Overlay District as an urgent measure; and

WHEREAS, the Arlington Housing Plan 2022 was adopted by ARB on January 24, 2022;

WHEREAS, the Arlington Housing Plan 2022 was adopted by the Select Board on April 20, 2022;

WHEREAS, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) approved the Arlington Housing Production Plan (HPP) pursuant to 760 CMR 56.03(4) on June 13, 2022; and

WHEREAS, the price of homes for sale in Arlington, like those in the rest of the Boston area, have increased over the past ten years; and

WHEREAS, 230 Arlington households are assisted through the Arlington Housing Stability Program [AHSP]; and

WHEREAS, meeting Chapter 40B affordability and unit creation standards will not alone address Arlington’s housing needs; and

WHEREAS, Affordable Housing Overlay Districts (“AHODs”) have proven to increase affordable housing in Cambridge, Somerville and North Reading, all Greater Boston communities that have passed AHOD bylaws and regulations; and

WHEREAS. establishing an AHOD will promote the public good by supporting the development of housing that is affordable to households earning at or below 120% of the area median income; and

WHEREAS, numerous communities have found that incremental increases in density, limited increases in height, and relaxation of certain other zoning limitations for residential developments in which all units are made permanently affordable to households earning at or below 120% of the area median income is achievable without stressing municipal infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, AHODs would serve to incentivize the reuse of existing, buildings in order to create AHOD Projects that are more compatible with established neighborhoods and align with Arlington's design objectives; and

WHEREAS, communities have seen significant benefits when AHOD Projects are permitted as-of-right, subject to non-binding advisory design consultation procedures that follow all design objectives; and

WHEREAS, AHODs will promote affordable housing objectives, promote greater socioeconomic diversity, and ensure a more equitable distribution of affordable housing town-wide; and

WHEREAS, Arlington has passed the Community Preservation Act and continues to seek passage of the real estate transfer fee which, along with Arlington's Affordable Housing Trust, can provide subsidy funds to promote AHOD development; and

WHEREAS Arlington, a MBTA community, is required to have zoning that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; and

WHEREAS, having denser and smaller housing units around businesses, public transportation, and schools near Boston/Cambridge is more environmentally efficient; and

WHEREAS, creating significant additional affordable housing, with varying tiers of affordability, will provide housing opportunities for current and future Arlington residents, including people who live in Arlington Housing Authority properties; and

WHEREAS, housing density may also increase economic development and thus Arlington's goals for its commercial tax base;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Arlington affirms the Affordable Housing Overlay District as a means to mitigate the worst of Arlington’s housing crisis.