LWV-Needham Encourages “Yes” Vote
Tuesday, January 14 Special Election

The League of Women Voters of Needham’s Board unanimously supported the zoning articles related to the MBTA Communities Act that were passed by Town Meeting on October 21, 2024. The Board also unanimously supports a “yes” vote in the January 14^th Special Election in Needham that would affirm that vote.

Background

The October 21, 2024, Special Town Meeting voted to adopt a set of zoning amendments presented under Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11. This set of zoning amendments would create a new “Multifamily Overlay District” with multiple sub-districts in which multi-family housing is allowed by right at a greater density than is allowed under existing zoning. The zoning amendments include dimensional regulations for each sub-district, development standards, a process for site plan review, minimum affordability requirements, and other regulations applicable to multi-family housing developments.

The full text of the zoning amendments as adopted by the motions presented to Town Meeting will be available to voters. These zoning amendments were presented to Town Meeting in the context of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, §3A, the so-called MBTA Communities Act, which requires MBTA communities to have a zoning by-law that provides for at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right. This zoning, while not requiring construction of multi-family units, does allow them to be built.

Meaning of “Yes” and “No” Votes

A yes vote on Question 1 would affirm the Town’s adoption of the zoning amendments described above. A no vote on Question 1 would repeal the Town’s adoption of the zoning amendments described above.

LWV-Needham’s Views

The League of Women Voters of Needham’s past studies have resulted in our support for increasing the amount of affordable housing in Needham. The zoning amendments that are the subject of this election do in fact allow Needham to have more affordable housing. They would ensure that at least one in every eight housing units constructed would be for residents below a certain income level. Further, we fully endorsed the draft Housing Plan in 2022, a key component of which was to comply with the then newly-enacted State law requiring towns with MBTA services to create zoning districts that facilitate the construction of more multi-family housing. These positions remain part of our views.

We encourage Needham voters to vote “yes” in the January 14^th Special Election to ensure more access to affordable housing in Needham.