The Manchester-by-the-Sea MBTA task force held its first meeting on June 8th, providing an overview of Manchester’s requirements for compliance. Please see a summary of Manchester’s compliance requirements below:
Create a district(s) where multifamily housing is allowed by right, without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children.
Minimum district of 39 acres. District does not have to be contiguous, but a minimum of 40% of the district must be located within a half mile radius of a transit station.
Minimum density requirement of 15 units per acre with a minimum multifamily district unit capacity of 585 units.
MBTA communities that are not in compliance will lose access to grant funding and the Attorney General warned that they may be in violation of state fair housing laws.
The goal is to have a plan for compliance for voters to consider at the 2024 April Town Meeting. The Manchester MBTA task force will meet on the third Thursday of each month going forward, with the next meeting scheduled for July 20 at 6:30 PM.
