State officials are making changes to 40B, the Massachusetts' anti-snob zoning law, in efforts to boost housing supply.
"Legislative leaders, responding to a Massachusetts-wide housing shortage, unveiled a bill yesterday that proposes substantial changes to the state's anti-snob-zoning law in hopes of spurring suburban communities to approve homebuilding projects. The bill...targets some of the most restrictive aspects of the law, known as Chapter 40B....the biggest alteration would allow towns to artificially double the number of homeownership units in a development. That will give municipalities a much greater chance of reaching the 10 percent affordable housing threshold....For example, a development with 25 affordable units could actually count 50 units for the purposes of meeting the threshold....Advocates of the affordable housing law yesterday said they were 'less than thrilled' with that aspect of the bill, but overall were guardedly optimistic about the legislation as a whole."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Legislative leaders push measure to boost suburban home building
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs
City council voted to limit the number of units in accessory buildings to six — after confronting backyard developments of up to 100 units behind a single family home.
Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing
Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)