SENATE DOCKET, NO. 824        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 152

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)

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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 for community housing packages.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 824        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 152

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 87 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act for community housing packages.

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. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the

following new chapter:

An Act for Community Housing Packages. 

PURPOSE OF THIS ACT:

Over a period of many recent years, it has been concluded by many communities, especially in Eastern Massachusetts, that the supply of affordable, high-quality, and/or housing of almost any kind, has fallen short of the actual needs, thereby creating severe economic pressures, often for, both employees, and employers, in convenience to actual work places.

Only by, creating improved incentives, and distinct standards, might these problems be eased, to the extent that it is possible, and these matters, are the business, and purpose of this act.

1.) The Department of Communities and Development, shall be authorized to create, after

due consideration, Community Housing Packages (CHPs), for helping to create, and recruit,

improved economics, across the 351 municipalities of Massachusetts, to expand, and strengthen

local communities, and especially affordable, safe, and durable housing units. These CHPs, shall

be part of a comprehensive state planning, and coordination process, intersecting with Master

Planning processes, as needed, and appropriate.

2.) The Department of Communities and Development, shall be authorized to create suitable

Regulations, to provide for the provisions of this statute, taking into account, particular local

preferences for, and including strengthened, safe, and durable housing units; that reflect state-of-

the-art, fire-resistant, and energy-efficient standards.

3.) Such Community Housing Packages shall be based on encouraging, where possible,

mixed-use development, and by consulting a recognized list of pre-screened, neighborhood, and

community-friendly developers, and contractors, with high-quality lasting construction

standards.

4.) The Department of Housing and Community Development, shall establish, keep, and

annually renew, a listing of high-quality, neighborhood, and community-friendly developers, by

welcoming, pre-screening, of such companies, interviewing them, and publicizing such

businesses, in various appropriate positive publicity, by public announcement, and general

media.

5.) Community Housing Packages (CHPs), shall take into account relevant modest, to medium

intensity regional transit options, in helping newer local economic development; and intersect

with state transportation planning.