MBTA Communities Multi-family Zoning

"MBTA Communities" with images from Concord

Upcoming Planning Board Meeting Dates

The Planning Board will be discussing the MBTA Communities Zoning Warrant Article at each of the following meetings:

  • December 12th
  • December 19th

Agendas are available prior to the meetings and are typically posted on Fridays before a scheduled meeting. Minutes are available following approval. View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Draft Zoning Overlay Map

Draft Option #2

Shown to the right is the Planning Board's second draft option for the MBTA Communities Overlay Map for consideration. 

This proposed option does meet the required compliance with:

Unit Capacity: 1,176 (1,094 required)

Dwelling Units/Acre: 22.2 (15 units/acre required)

Land Area within the Station Area: 53.05% (50% required)

Total Land Area: 84.41 acres (50 ac. required)

This map will be reviewed at a future Planning Board Meeting. Please click on the image to the right to view it as a PDF.

MBTA_Communities_Multifamily_Overlay_District_DraftOption2_11_27

Click HERE to go to the Town's WebGIS Interactive map. Under the "Layers" tab on the left hand side go to "Zoning" and click the small white triangle to expand this section. From here, click the check box for "MBTA Subdistricts Draft Overlay Map to see the proposed five locations. You can also click the check box for "MBTA Communities: Station Areas" and "MBTA Communities: Excluded Areas" to see both the 1/2 mile radius with a purple circle and the excluded areas which will appear in a light blue color. 

Please note, you can click on any parcel from the GIS map to learn more about it by using the "i" button on the right side of the website, use the hand button below the "i" to move around the map.

MBTA Communities FAQ click here
What is Zoning
HPP Goals
explains what is MBTA communities
Housing type examples, 15 units per acre
what is affordable housing? Shows what is affordable for various people in town
Concord 3A One Pager - Envision Concord Goals
Basic Facts 1 pager MBTA Communities
 

Concord's housing goals were set by the community in the Housing Production Plan and Envision Concord Long Range Plan. Let's work together to move zoning for more housing options forward!

The MBTA Communities Zoning Requirement, or Zoning Act Section 3A, is a new law which requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria set forth in the statute:

  • Minimum gross density of 15 units per acre
  • Located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station, if applicable
  • No age restrictions and suitable for families with children

For more information and the details of the new law, please visit the State's website

MBTA Timeline

FAQ's and Other Helpful Important Documents

  1. Concord MBTA FAQs updated August 23, 2023
  2. MBTA Communities Town Assessor Memo 8-3-23
  3. REVISION to Section 3A Compliance Guidelines (August 17 2023)
  4. Summary of Changes to Section 3A Compliance Guidelines 8-17-2023