Ipswich Residents to Vote on Compliance with 3A at Special Town Meeting

At Ipswich’s Special Town Meeting on October 22, 2024, residents will vote on implementing a Multi-family Overlay District that would comply with the state multi-family zoning requirements for MBTA communities commonly referred to as 3A. Please see more information about the proposed Multi-Family Overlay District (MOD) below:

• The MOD has a land area of approximately 54.9 acres.
• In the MOD, multi-family housing is permitted by right (no special permit required), and there are no age restrictions.
• Multi-family developments created in the MOD are subject to a site-plan review.
• The MOD comprises four sub-districts: MOD-1, MOD-2, MOD-3, MOD-4.
• The MOD-4 is a Mandatory Mixed-Use (MMU) development sub-district, meaning new developments in the district require buildings with non-residential uses on the ground floor.
• The maximum density in MOD-1, MOD-2, MOD-3, and MOD-4 is 22 units per acre, 20 units per acre, 15 units per acre, and 22 units per acre respectively. Please note that under 3A, there is a minimum density requirement of 15 units per acre.
• Multi-family development in the newly established MOD would be subject to Ipswich’s existing affordability requirements outlined in the town’s inclusionary zoning requirements. Under Ipswich’s inclusionary zoning requirements, 15% of the units in multi-family or residential mixed-use developments must be affordable at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) for rental units, and 80% AMI for owner-occupied units.
• Ipswich did complete an Economic Feasibility Analysis to require deeper affordability requirements than those outlined in the state’s multi-family zoning requirements (3A).

Ipswich residents can approve the proposal with a simple majority vote. For more information about the Multi-family Overlay District, including a map of the district, please see Article 8 of the Special Town Meeting warrant by clicking HERE.

Updates will be posted to the NSR blog.