HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3379        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1288

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kevin G. Honan and Andres X. Vargas

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to housing reform.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3379        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1288

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to housing reform.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 4A of chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

By a majority vote of their legislative bodies, and with the approval of the mayor, board of selectmen or other chief executive officer, any contiguous cities and towns may enter into an agreement to allocate public infrastructure costs, municipal service costs and local tax revenue associated with the development of an identified parcel or parcels or development within the contiguous communities generally, provided that said agreement is approved by the department of revenue.

SECTION 2.  Section 1A of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the introductory paragraph the following 9 definitions: -

“Accessory dwelling unit”, a self-contained housing unit, inclusive of sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities on the same lot as the principal dwelling, subject to otherwise applicable dimensional and parking requirements, that (i) maintains a separate entrance, either directly from the outside or through an entry hall or corridor shared with the principal dwelling sufficient to meet the requirements of the state building code for safe egress; (ii) is not larger in floor area than ½ the floor area of the principal dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller; and (iii) is subject to such additional restrictions as may be imposed by a municipality, including but not limited to additional size restrictions, owner-occupancy requirements, and restrictions or prohibitions on short-term rental of accessory dwelling units.

“As of right”, development may proceed under a zoning ordinance or by-law without the need for a special permit, variance, zoning amendment, waiver, or other discretionary zoning approval.

“Department”, the department of housing and community development.

“Lot”, an area of land with definite boundaries that is used or available for use as the site of a building or buildings.

“Gross density”, a units-per-acre density measurement that includes in the calculation land occupied by public rights-of-way, recreational, civic, commercial and other non-residential uses.

“MBTA community,” A city or town that is enumerated in one of the following: (i) “51 cities and towns”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 161A of the General Laws; (ii) “Fourteen cities and towns”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 161A of the General Laws; or (iii) “Other served communities”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 161A of the General Laws; and such other municipalities as may be added in accordance with section 6 of chapter 161A of the General laws or in accordance with any special act to the area constituting the authority.

“Mixed-use development”, development containing a mix of residential uses and non-residential uses, including, without limitation: commercial, institutional, industrial, or other uses; all conceived, planned and integrated to create vibrant, workable, livable and attractive neighborhoods.

“multi-family housing”, a building with 3 or more residential dwelling units or 2 or more buildings on the same lot with more than 1 residential dwelling unit in each building.

“Natural resource protection zoning”, zoning ordinances or by-laws enacted principally to protect natural resources by promoting compact patterns of development and concentrating development within a portion of a parcel of land so that a significant majority of the land remains permanently undeveloped and available for agriculture, forestry, recreation, watershed management, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat or other natural resource values.

“Open space residential development”, a residential development in which the buildings and accessory uses are clustered together into one or more groups separated from adjacent property and other groups within the development by intervening open land. An open space residential development shall be permitted only on a plot of land of such minimum size as a zoning ordinance or by-law may specify which is divided into building lots with dimensional control, density and use restrictions for such building lots varying from those otherwise permitted by the ordinance or by-law and open land. Such open land shall either be conveyed to the city or town and accepted by it for park or open space use, or be made subject to a recorded use restriction enforceable by the city or town or a non-profit organization the principal purpose of which is the conservation of open space, providing that such land shall be kept in an open or natural state and not be built for residential use or developed for accessory uses such as parking or roadway.

SECTION 3. Said section 1A of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “Special permit granting authority” the following 2 definitions: -

“TDR zoning”, Zoning that authorizes transfer of development rights by permitting landowners in specific preservation areas identified as sending areas to sell their development rights to landowners in specific development districts identified as receiving areas.

“Transfer of development rights”, the regulatory procedure whereby the owner of a parcel may convey development rights, extinguishing those rights on the first parcel, and where the owner of another parcel may obtain and exercise those rights in addition to the development rights already existing on the second parcel.

SECTION 4. Section 5 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Except as provided herein, no zoning ordinance or by-law or amendment thereto shall be adopted or changed except by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the town council, or of the city council where there is a commission form of government or a single branch, or of each branch where there are two branches, or by a two-thirds vote of a town meeting; provided, however, the following shall be adopted by a vote of a simple majority of all members of the town council or the city council where there is a commission form of government or a single branch or of each branch where there are two branches or by a vote of a simple majority of town meeting:

(1) An amendment to a zoning ordinance or by-law to allow any of the following as of right: (a) multifamily housing or mixed-use development in a location that would qualify as an eligible location for a smart growth district under section 2 of chapter 40R of the general laws; (b) accessory dwelling units; or (c) open-space residential development.

(2) An amendment to a zoning ordinance or by-law to allow by special permit: (a) multi-family housing or mixed –use development in a location that would qualify as an eligible location for a smart growth zoning district under section 2 of chapter 40R of the general laws; (b) an increase in the permissible density of population or intensity of a particular use in a proposed development pursuant to section 9 of chapter 40A of the general laws; or (c) a diminution in the amount of parking required for residential or mixed-use development pursuant to section 9 of chapter 40A of the general laws;

(3) Zoning ordinances or by-laws or amendments thereto that (a) provide for TDR zoning or natural resource protection zoning in instances where the adoption of such zoning promotes concentration of development in areas that the municipality deems most appropriate for such development, but will not result in a diminution in the maximum number of housing units that could be developed within the municipality; or (b) modify regulations concerning the bulk and height of structures, yard sizes, lot area, setbacks, open space, parking and building coverage requirements to allow for additional housing units beyond what would otherwise be permitted under the existing ordinance or by-law;

(4) The adoption of a smart growth zoning district or starter home zoning district in accordance with section 3 of chapter 40R of the general laws.

Provided, further, that any amendment that requires a simple majority vote shall not be combined with amendments that require a two-thirds majority vote. Provided, further, that if in a city or town with a council of fewer than twenty-five members there is filed with the clerk prior to final action by the council a written protect against a zoning change under this section, stating the reasons duly signed by owners of fifty per cent or more the area of the land proposed to be included in such change or of the area of the land immediately adjacent extending three hundred feet therefrom, no change of any such ordinance shall be adopted except by a two-thirds vote of all members.

SECTION 5. Section 9 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “interests,” in line 34, the following words:-

Provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit a zoning ordinance or by-law from allowing transfer of development rights to be permitted as of right, without the need for a special permit or other discretionary approval.

SECTION 6. Said section 9 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 39, the word “cluster” and inserting in place thereof the following words:--

open space residential.

SECTION 7. Said section 9 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 35, the word “cluster” and inserting in place thereof the following words: --

open space residential.

SECTION 8. Said section 9 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after the word “control,” in line 43, the following words:-

Provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit a zoning ordinance or by-law from allowing open space residential developments to be permitted as of right, without the need for a special permit or other discretionary zoning approval.

SECTION 9. Said section 9 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the 7th paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph: -

Zoning ordinances or by-laws may also provide that special permits may be granted for reduced parking space to residential unit ratio requirement after a finding by the special permit granting authority that the public good would be served and that the area in which the development is located would not be adversely affected by such diminution in parking.

SECTION 10. Section 9, of chapter 40A, as appearing in the 2016 official edition, is hereby further amended after the last sentence on line 127 by inserting the following:-

However, a special permit issued by a special permit granting authority shall require a simple majority vote for any of the following:

(a) multifamily housing that is located within .5 miles of a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station, provided, not less than 10 per cent of the housing is affordable to and occupied by households whose annual income is less than 80 per cent of the area wide median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and affordability is assured for a period of not less than 30 years through the use of an affordable housing restriction as defined in section 31 of chapter 184.

(b) mixed-use development in centers of commercial activity within a municipality, including town and city centers, other commercial districts in cities and towns, and rural village districts, provided, not less than 10 per cent of the housing is affordable to and occupied by households whose annual income is less than 80 per cent of the area wide median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and affordability is assured for a period of not less than 30 years through the use of an affordable housing restriction as defined in section 31 of chapter 184.

(c) A reduced parking space to residential unit ratio requirement, pursuant to this section, provided that a reduction in the parking requirement will result in the production of additional housing units.

SECTION 11. Section 3 of chapter 40R of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “40A,” in line 10, the following words:-

; provided, however, that a smart growth zoning district or starter home district ordinance or by-law shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of all members of the town council, or of the city council where there is a commission form of government or a single branch, or of each branch where there are two branches, or by a simple majority vote of a town meeting.

SECTION 12. Section 1 of chapter 40S of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the word “properties” in line 51 and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

buildings.

SECTION 13. Said section 1 of said chapter 40S, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the figure “40R,” in line 61, the following words:-

including without limitation smart growth zoning districts and starter home zoning districts as defined in section 1 of said chapter 40R.

SECTION 14.  The secretary of housing and economic development shall report annually to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, who shall forward the report to the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on housing, and the chairs of the senate and house committee on ways and means, on the activities and status of the Housing Choice Initiative, as described by the governor in a message to the general court dated December 11, 2017. The report also shall include a list of all cities and towns that qualify as “housing choice” communities and a list and description of grant funds disbursed to such cities and towns and a description of how the funds were used to support the production of new housing.

The report shall also include progress made towards the goal of producing 427,000 new units of housing in Massachusetts by 2040.  The housing production goal shall also include a goal of having 85,400 units of housing be created by 2040 that are affordable to households earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income, with at least 8,500 of these units affordable to households earning less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income. The report shall include a breakdown of market-rate units created; units created that are accessible or adaptable for persons with disabilities; units created for persons over the age of 55; and units created by deed restricted affordable housing available to households earning less than 80% Area Median Income, less than 60% Area Median Income, and less than 30% Area Median Income.

SECTION 14.  Said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 3 the following new section: -

Section 3A.

(a) Zoning ordinances and by-laws of a city or town that is an MBTA community, as defined in this chapter, shall provide at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is a permitted use as of right. For the purposes of this paragraph, a “district of reasonable size” shall include: (i) multi-family housing without age restrictions which is suitable for families with children; (ii) have a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, subject to any further limitations imposed by section 40 of chapter 131 and title 5 of the state environmental code, established by section 13 of chapter 21A; and (iii) be in a location as described in subsection (b) of this section.

If a city or town that is an MBTA community fails to comply with this section, that city or town shall be ineligible for funds from the so-called Housing Choice Initiative as described by the governor in a message to the general court dated December 11, 2017, and the Local Capital Projects Fund under Section 2EEEE of Chapter 29 of the General Laws. If a city or town receives funds from the Housing Choice Initiative or the Local Capital Projects Fund and fails to comply with this section within three years, all funds to the city or town shall be repaid to the general fund. 

(b) Districts shall be in the following locations:

(i) located within .5 miles of a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station.

(ii) located within .25 miles of a stop along a local bus route, key bus route, commuter bus route, rapid transit route, commuter rail route, or boat route, as defined in the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Service Delivery Policy  as approved by the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board on January 23, 2017, and as it may be updated and approved from time to time.

(c) A city or town may satisfy the requirement of subsection (a) of this section by obtaining a determination from the department, acting directly or through a regional planning agency as its designee, that the multi-family provisions of its zoning ordinance or bylaw are consistent with the department’s guidelines, or no locations as described in subsection (b) exist. If a city or town obtains a determination from the department under this section, the city or town may use the determination as verification of compliance with subsection (a) in order to establish eligibility as a so-called housing choice community to receive funds from the Housing Choice Initiative or the Local Capital Projects Fund under Section 2EEEE of Chapter 29 of the general laws.

(d) The department, in consultation with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall promulgate guidelines which shall be used to determine if a city or town has satisfied the requirements established in this section.

SECTION 15.  Section 17 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following two paragraphs:-

The court, in its discretion, may require non-municipal plaintiffs in an action under this section to post a surety or cash bond in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to secure the payment of costs in appeals of decisions approving special permits, variances and site plans where the court finds that the harm to the defendants or to the public interest resulting from the delays of appeal outweighs the burden of the surety or cash bond on the plaintiffs. When making a decision regarding surety or cash bond requirements, the court may consider the relative merits of the appeal and the relative financial means of the appellant and the defendants.