Voters in Milton just rejected a zoning plan aimed at bringing that city into compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, which requires communities located near the T to allow multifamily development. The law, passed during the Baker administration, aims to boost Massachusetts' housing stock and make purchasing a home in the state at least a little easier than it currently is.
Gov. Maura Healey expressed disappointment with the outcome, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell vowed to enforce the law, which she noted does not include an opt-out provision. But it's not entirely clear how Healey, Campbell and other lawmakers will respond if Melton doesn't adopt a plan that will bring them into compliance.
It is also not clear whether the people who pushed Milton to vote “no” had any desire to formulate such a solution. If Milton said unequivocally no, would other societies follow his example? What might this mean for ongoing efforts to address housing scarcity in Massachusetts? Adam Reilly discusses the situation with Boston Globe columnist and Milton resident Shirley Leung and GBH News transportation reporter Bob Seay.
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