Planning Board reviews inclusionary zoning draft and fee‑in‑lieu formula
May 08, 2024 | Town of Westborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Town planner Jenny Gingras presented a draft inclusionary zoning bylaw the working group is developing and asked the Planning Board to review the proposal before it reaches a public hearing.
Gingras said the draft would consolidate existing affordable‑housing provisions scattered through the zoning bylaw, set a five‑unit minimum trigger for inclusionary requirements and outline three options developers could use when requesting reductions in the Highway Business district’s open‑space requirement: a fee‑in‑lieu, donation of land to the Town of Westborough, or implementation of sustainable design measures evaluated on a point system.
Gingras described a sample fee calculation tied to HUD income limits and gave a concrete example: “So for a family of 4, if the HUD income limit is 90,000, multiply that by 2, and that’s your payment of a fee in lieu instead of building 1 unit,” producing a $180,000 fee in lieu in the example. Board members questioned whether a multiplier of two would create a sufficient incentive to build affordable units rather than pay the fee and suggested a sliding scale or higher multiplier. Several members also urged that any fee formula have a clear rational basis to withstand legal scrutiny.
Members discussed how on‑site affordable units count toward the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) and whether marketing plans could include a local preference to prioritize Westborough residents. Gingras pointed to an upcoming housing production plan, due in June, and an economic feasibility analysis that will inform what percentage targets (including a 20% threshold under certain construction types) are feasible for the town.
No zoning change was adopted at the meeting; the board provided feedback and will continue deliberation through the zoning working group and a future planning‑board hearing.
Gingras said the draft would consolidate existing affordable‑housing provisions scattered through the zoning bylaw, set a five‑unit minimum trigger for inclusionary requirements and outline three options developers could use when requesting reductions in the Highway Business district’s open‑space requirement: a fee‑in‑lieu, donation of land to the Town of Westborough, or implementation of sustainable design measures evaluated on a point system.
Gingras described a sample fee calculation tied to HUD income limits and gave a concrete example: “So for a family of 4, if the HUD income limit is 90,000, multiply that by 2, and that’s your payment of a fee in lieu instead of building 1 unit,” producing a $180,000 fee in lieu in the example. Board members questioned whether a multiplier of two would create a sufficient incentive to build affordable units rather than pay the fee and suggested a sliding scale or higher multiplier. Several members also urged that any fee formula have a clear rational basis to withstand legal scrutiny.
Members discussed how on‑site affordable units count toward the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) and whether marketing plans could include a local preference to prioritize Westborough residents. Gingras pointed to an upcoming housing production plan, due in June, and an economic feasibility analysis that will inform what percentage targets (including a 20% threshold under certain construction types) are feasible for the town.
No zoning change was adopted at the meeting; the board provided feedback and will continue deliberation through the zoning working group and a future planning‑board hearing.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
