Massachusetts has taken a proactive stance on housing production through the recent MBTA Communities Act and legalization of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). On February 6, the state released a housing plan. Then, on February 21, the Unlocking Housing Production Commission published a report with bold recommendations to address the statewide housing shortage.
Here are some of the most impactful recommendations in our reading:
1. Allow two-family homes on all residential lots and four-family homes on all residential lots where there is existing water and sewer infrastructure: This recommendation would really open the door for more housing choice and spur redevelopment.
2. Eliminate parking minimums for residential use: And require municipalities to establish transportation demand management (TDM) as a condition for allowing off-street parking. This recommendation to remove parking requirements and introduce hurdles for allowing parking really flips the script on how communities handle parking.
3. Eliminate minimum residential lot sizes statewide: This would reduce the need for variances, lower costs, and lead to increased housing supply, which could have a big impact on both greenfield development and unlock infill in existing communities. Its hard to say whether this recommendation or the elimination of parking requirements would have a bigger impact, both are monumental shifts in how development is regulated.
4. Require all municipalities to create multi-family zoning districts: This would be essentially an extension of the MBTA Communities Act from the 175 municipalities to all 351.
5. Revise the state building Code to allow the construction of single-stairway residential buildings of up to 6 stories and 24 units: This will open up the possibility of more efficient and cost-effective building typologies. A recommendation that is potentially missing is to remove the requirement to have sprinklers on buildings up to four-family as has been done in Oregon.
6. Direct support for the modular housing industry: Including changing regulations and standards, full time dedicated staff, grants, and support for an offsite construction facility within the state.
7. Sales tax credit for construction materials for multifamily construction: To offset the cost of materials for beneficial development.
8. Expand water and sewer infrastructure capacity with State support: Including supporting private systems and developer-led extensions.
The report contains many additional recommendations for state-level reforms. It’s an exciting space to watch. Were there any proposals you expected but didn’t see?
