By Amber Angove
The North Attleboro Town Council held a second reading and vote on Measure 2025-008, the Multi-Unit Residence Overlay District (MROD) Zoning Bylaw, which was amended to comply with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Communities section 3A of MGL c.40A. The measure was passed following a unanimous vote.
The second reading of the bylaw was waived, and the council proceeded with discussion. Councilor Mark Gould Jr. praised the bylaw, stating, “This bylaw is really well written.”
Town Council President Justin Pare addressed the changes made to the proposed bylaw, noting, “I know we’ve covered this a few times…there were some changes that were recommended.”
According to information posted to the town website, the MBTA Communities Act was adopted in January 2021, as part of legislation to address the state’s housing crisis. The act requires 177 cities and towns to establish “at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.”
The act also established different classes of MBTA Communities for certain municipalities: rapid transit community, commuter rail community, adjacent community, and adjacent small-town community. Each have their own rules and requirements. The Town of North Attleborough is an adjacent community. The town is required to zone 50 acres that allows multi-family housing by-right and half of the total area must be contiguous.
The area to be included in this district will be Route 1 Central and Route 1 North, and encompass 77 acres around East and South Washington streets and East Street.
Town Manager, Michael Borg, clarified that the recommendations had come from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), which had reviewed the original draft and provided minor updates and clarifications.
Councilor Daniel Donovan voiced his concerns about the state law’s effectiveness, stating, “While I appreciate what the legislature is trying to do here, and I think it’s a noble effort to try and address the housing crisis in the state, quite honestly I think the law is terrible.”
However, Donovan acknowledged the efforts of the town’s planning team, adding, “I give our town planner and our Planning Board an immense amount of credit, because they had this…dumped in their laps, they had to come up with a zoning bylaw to satisfy it and they did it. And they came up with a good one.”
Donovan went on to express his frustration with the process, noting, “Unfortunately…There’s way too much money at stake here for us to join in and resist this thing like some other towns have done. So, I will be voting for it, but I will be gritting my teeth while I’m doing it.”
The council ultimately voted to accept the amended MROD zoning bylaw with a 6-0 vote.
