SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board reviewed the town’s proposed Housing Production Plan with the help of Director of Community and Economic Development Marzie Galazka. With prior approval by the Affordable Housing Trust and Planning Board, the five-year plan is now ready for the Select Board’s final endorsement.
Swampscott’s HPP is described as a strategic planning document to assist in the implementation of housing policies and products in order to comply with the Commonwealth’s Chapter 40B Affordable Housing statute.
“In order for communities to be able to deny a comprehensive permit or a 40B project, municipalities have to produce a half a percent per year of new housing, or 1% of additional new housing every two years,” Galazka explained.
Just less than 4% of Swampscott’s housing currently qualifies as affordable housing. According to Galazka, that number is set to increase with the development of an additional 114 units at Elm Place.
“Any community that falls under 10%, a developer can come in, submit a comprehensive permit, and be able to construct housing that might not be something that the town will be supportive of,” Galazka said. “We’re slowly on our way to reach the units.”
The plan includes housing strategies including an emphasis on continuing partnerships with third-party developers on privately-owned properties, providing support to seniors to enable them to live in their homes longer, and conducting additional community outreach and education on the subject.
In March, the town purchased properties located on 12 through 24 Pine St. for $1.7 million with the goal of building between 20 and 30 affordable housing units for veterans. Select Board member David Grishman noted the town’s affordable housing percentage should increase to 6.4% once the Pine Street redevelopment is complete. Board member Doug Thompson said focusing on catering housing stock toward seniors and supporting them to remain in their homes longer was especially important, as the plan projects its population of people older than 65 to increase to approximately 30% by the year 2030. Vice Chair Katie Phelan suggested the development of multi-family units could be a key factor in reaching the town’s 10% goal. With Town Meeting passing MBTA zoning legislation in May that takes into account at least one zoning district where multifamily housing is permitted, the potential development of multi-family housing became slightly easier. Phelan expressed belief that multi-family units could be appealing to younger families.
Chair MaryEllen Fletcher elected to postpone her Board’s vote on the HPP until its next meeting.
