Mass. votes against statewide minimum lot size for single-family homes

Massachusetts voted against a proposal that would have forced cities and towns to let developers build single-family homes on 5,000 square-foot plots of land, which is smaller than what many municipalities currently allow. Over 2 million residents voted on Question 7; it was decided by just over 30,000 votes. 

Those in favor of the bill saw it as a way to increase home construction and lower housing costs, while opponents worried a statewide requirement would limit municipalities' control over housing and zoning, Hannah Reale writes for WGH.

WGH reports that after the measure was called, Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said, “We believe voters recognized that a top-down, one-size-fits-all mandate would have negative consequences in communities, and they shared our concerns about the proposal’s lack of affordability guardrails.” 

Meanwhile, WGH reports that Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing MA, wrote, “More than 1.2 million residents, in urban, suburban, and rural communities voted in support of a more affordable Massachusetts … With high hopes for the future, we remain committed to helping Massachusetts residents achieve the dream of housing stability and homeownership,” after officials announced the results.