HOLDEN — An effort by the state to expand multifamily housing in town is being met with questions.
The so-called MBTA Communities Law, which requires allowing multifamily housing in communities adjacent to a community with an MBTA connections, has Holden officials objecting to the way the law is being presented, as well as its impacts. All the while, they say, the town already has multifamily housing and does not object to more of it.
But local officials want to maintain local control for planning, so that they are ready for the impacts that come with more residents.
And the word “affordable” is no where in the discussion, Selectman Chairman Anthony Renzoni said.
With any housing development being market rate, the prices or rents would likely be in the range of existing rents.
Town Manager Peter Lukes said a two-bedroom apartment in town currently rents for about $2,500 a month.
Affordability is not in the formula, selectmen said repeatedly, adding that more housing could help provide spaces for people who already cannot find homes in Boston.
Lukes said that under the legislation, some existing housing, including existing multifamily units, could be included in any zones that are developed under the law.
A total of 50 acres, with a minimum of 5 acres and at least one of 25 acres, is required, he said, with the ability to support 750 units.
The criteria has many area towns feeling overwhelmed by more state requirements, as they already deal with affordable housing that skirts local rules.
And developers taking advantage of the MBTA rules can already come in and develop on buildable property.
But Renzoni said that ‘adjacent to the MBTA links’ does not mean close. With Holden’s center being 9 miles from the Worcester MBTA station, he estimated it could be a 3.5 hour commute to drive to the station, take the train to Boston and then the ‘T’ to get to a job.
There was support for more housing, as the town continues to grow and attract new residents.
The board will take up the issue during April’s first meeting, having not voted at the March 20 meeting.
Jacob Love, an attorney for Lawyers for Civil Rights, spoke to the board and said he was “speaking to encourage this board to comply with the housing law.” Love said the town zoning increases costs and reduces housing additions.
That Boston-based legal group stated on its Facebook page regarding the state attorney general’s statement that the zoning law is not optional: “Housing organizations and civil rights groups expressed support for the AG’s statement. Some, like Lawyers for Civil Rights, had already been eyeing some sort of legal action against the non-compliant towns.”
“Greater Boston is mired in an affordable housing crisis that harms Commonwealth households of all incomes and backgrounds, but particularly low-income households of color,” Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, said in a statement. “Municipal compliance with the MBTA Communities Law is critical to begin combatting that crisis.”
But the Holden selectmen indicated they could not solve Boston’s housing issues.
In its March 20 meeting, selectmen noted housing costs are already high in Holden as a desirable community with new homes in the $700,000 range, Renzoni said.
Lukes said the town had initially read the words “encourage” rather than “must” or “shall” and responded with less haste.
“What is important to remember is that it has nothing to do with affordable housing,” Lukes said. “The statute does not mention affordable housing or force anyone to develop affordable housing.”
But he acknowledged that “the debate has morphed,” as if there is some intention to keep folks out of Holden.
“Holden has affordable housing now and lots more room. A developer can move in and build affordable housing. This law does not change that.”
But the formula for affordable housing is based on income, and even for existing affordable units, “It is affordable in name only,” Lukes said.
“This doesn’t change any of that. Our noncompliance has not been an issue with affordable housing,” he said. “Holden has multifamily housing all over the place, and the town has supported that.
“We want more of that. It’s benefited the town quite a bit,” Lukes said. “The difference is, we’ve had the ability to plan for it,” working needed increases due to growth in staff and services such as police and schools into the planning.
He suggested his office continue working “so we can figure out some potential overlay and move forward on the path that would be able to be part of this program in the future.
“I think from a cursory exploration, we could do it without having a negative impact on the town,” Lukes said.
Since existing housing counts, “I think we could do it creatively,” he said, adding there was “very little chance a developer would come in and plop down 750 units of housing. I think it is potentially possible to bring this without having a terrible impact we feared.”
Selectman Stephanie Mulroy said the town should “slow down the ball a little bit. I think we’re all in support of multifamily housing but without destruction to the already overburdened system we have.” “Relinquishing local zoning and local planning to the statehouse is a big mistake,” Renzoni said, considering Holden has, for 281 years, been holding town meetings to decide what is best for the town.
“But we’re changing that,” he said. “It’s because Boston has no place for their people to live.”
Town Counsel Steve Madaus said that the attorney general’s office did reach out in a cooperative way to say “there is some avenue for discussion there. There hasn’t been a wall of silence.” He said he would work with the town manager for discussions as appropriate.
