WESTFORD — A public workshop for the MBTA Communities Act will be hosted by the Town of Westford later this month.
The regulation requires MBTA communities and MBTA-adjacent communities, like Westford, to create a new zoning district to allow for multi-family housing as of right. The town is not obligated to construct new units after creating the overlay district.
“All we have to do is create the potential for the units. We don’t have to make good on the yield, all we have to do is create the potential,” Director of Land Use Management Jeffrey Morrissette said during an Aug. 3 meeting.
According to the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell, communities that do not comply could risk civil action and liability under state and federal fair housing laws.
The regulation does not provide a mechanism for communities to opt out of the requirements.
The public workshop will include background information on the new law, share work on the project to date and explore options for multi-family zoning in Westford.
The workshop will be held on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Stony Brook Middle School.
Want to learn more about some of the the committee’s work to date? Check out additional reporting from WestfordCAT below.
Future zoning bylaw to allow for additional multi-family housing
