NAHANT — The Town is working hard to reach the state mandated compliance for the MBTA 3A Zoning Act before the Dec. 31 deadline.
The Act will require the Town to create at least one zoning overlay district where multi-family housing is permitted as of right. Nahant qualifies as an “Adjacent Small Town” under the Act.
The Planning Board proposed the creation of a Multi-Family Overlay District within the Town bylaws, though the overlay district does not require that housing be built, nor restrict the Board’s current site plan review process, according to the Town’s website.
Criteria for the development is listed below:
- Minimum gross density of 15 units per acre
- Not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station, if applicable
- No age restrictions
- Suitable for families with children
Acting Town Administrator Alison Nieto explained the Town’s progress so far as it prepares to schedule a Special Town Meeting for community members to finally vote on the matter.
“It went to the Select Board last week, who reviewed it and are in favor of the draft,” Nieto said. “Now it’s in the hands of the Finance Committee to discuss its recommendations to the Board and whether or not they will recommend it.”
Nieto added that the Finance Committee is currently working to create the Town Meeting warrant book that goes out to every resident prior to the meeting, with the Town hoping for a Special Town Meeting to be sometime in November, though a specific date has not yet been pinpointed.
Nieto continued, explaining that the Select Board will meet this week to finalize a date during its meeting Wednesday night.
She also shared her thoughts on why she feels it’s important to have residents rally to vote.
“I just think it’s an important topic, and I encourage every resident to come to the Special Town Meeting when we have it, and hopefully they vote in favor of the Planning Board’s recommendation to be compliant by Dec. 31,” Nieto said.
