MBTA Communities Working Group, Planning Staff to Host Community Conversation on Thursday, October 12

ANDOVER, MA - The Town of Andover invites residents to attend a community conversation on the MBTA Communities zoning law on Thursday, October 12 at 7:00 PM at Memorial Hall Library. The event will cover recent developments in the law's implementation in Andover, including a review of community input received to date, the MBTA Communities Working Group's recommendation for the location of a compliant zone, and discussion of the components of a potential zoning bylaw article. 

The MBTA Communities zoning law, enacted as part of a 2021 economic development package, requires communities that host MBTA service, or that are adjacent to communities hosting MBTA service, to create at least one district in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right, meaning that development within the district may take place without the need for a special permit or other discretionary approval. Andover is considered an MBTA community because of the Town’s two commuter rail stations on the MBTA’s Haverhill Line, located in Downtown and Ballardvale. 

As defined in the law, the required zone must allow a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, be located within a half mile of an MBTA station, and be suitable for families with children, carrying no age restriction for residency. Subsequent guidelines issued by the the state establish that the multi-family zoning district must be able to accommodate a reasonable number of units, set at 15 percent of the community’s total housing units for cities and towns hosting commuter rail service. 

Under the minimum multi-family unit capacity established by the law, a district created in Andover would have to accommodate at least 2,031 housing units – a number equal to 15 percent of the Town’s existing 13,541 units.

The Town of Andover has taken a community-focused approach to evaluating the MBTA Communities zoning law over the past year, providing frequent opportunities for residents to learn more about the measure and share suggestions regarding its implementation. In June, the Town appointed a MBTA Communities Working Group, comprised of 15 volunteer members, to expand outreach and analyze feedback from the community in identifying ways to achieve compliance with state regulations.

Following an intensive process to assess the areas around Andover’s two MBTA commuter rail stations conducted throughout the summer, the Working Group voted on a recommendation for the location of a compliant zone during its meeting on September 28. The recommended location will be discussed in greater detail during the October 12 event.

Under the state’s prescribed timeline for implementation, municipalities that are subject to the law must adopt a compliant zone by December 31, 2024. The Town of Andover intends to bring a zoning bylaw article that would create a new zone to Annual Town Meeting in the Spring of 2024.

The MBTA Communities zoning law is intended to create a new tool in responding to the Commonwealth’s housing shortage and the lack of adequate housing options for young families, workers, and aging residents. The specific emphasis on expanding housing near public transportation hubs is intended to create walkable neighborhoods that are closer to frequently visited destinations, such as shops, schools, restaurants, and parks.

Communities that do not comply with the law will not be eligible for certain state infrastructure and housing funding opportunities, including MassWorks and Housing Choice grants. Failure to comply may also result in legal liability, as detailed in an advisory issued by Attorney General Andrea Campbell in March.

Click here for more information and resources about the implementation of the MBTA Communities zoning law in Andover.