NAHANT — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has officially confirmed that Nahant is in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act of 2021.
“We had to come into it by state law,” Town Administrator Alison Nieto stated, explaining why the Select Board held a special Town Meeting to approve an initial plan.
To satisfy the law’s requirements, town leadership, along with several local boards, conducted a thorough review of possible approaches while also engaging residents to gather community input.
Section 3A of the legislation mandates that municipalities served by the MBTA, or those that border MBTA communities, allow multi-family residential development near public transit as a matter of right, without requiring a special permit.
Because Nahant receives MBTA bus service and has a population of fewer than 7,000 residents, it is classified as an “Adjacent Small Town” and was required to comply with the law by Dec. 31, 2021.
Nieto also noted that the decision to comply was influenced by the potential consequences of noncompliance, including action from the Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, who is pursuing lawsuits against nine communities. In addition to the threat of litigation, the attorney general warned of “…withdrawing state money.”
“I’m glad that Nahant is not in that position,” Nieto stated. “And that the town is not at risk of losing state grants,” She added.
As part of the compliance process, the town designated an 8.3-acre Multi-Family Overlay District at Bass Point, specifically covering the Sea Breeze Lane area bounded by Bass Point Road and Gardner Road. The location was selected in part because multi-family housing had already been allowed there by special permit and was deemed to have minimal impact on the broader community.
“This was an incredibly challenging process, given its size and current housing density,” Nieto said. “Our many town boards, staff, and community collaborated to develop the best possible plan to meet bylaws’ requirements and maintain Nahant’s character,”
On Jan. 22, the town received official notification from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities confirming acceptance of the bylaw. With this approval, Nahant is now eligible for the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund, which provides financial support for infrastructure projects that support future housing development, should the town choose to pursue it.
