Medfield State Hospital Master Plan Committee Update

Information from the MSHMPC website. Images from the June 28th DHCD presentation on the Massachusetts Chapter 40R Program, courtesy of Lucille Fisher.

Medfield State Hospital Master Plan Committee Update

On June 28, 2017 Bill Reyelt and Elaine Wijnja of DHCD Massachusetts (Department of Housing and Community Development) provided the MSHMPC and Medfield Planning Board with an informational session on the State's Chapter 40R Program.

40R is a zoning method designed to encourage affordability and Smart Growth across a specifically defined district. Economic incentives are provided by the State according to the district size and density. Eligibility has very specific requirements, such as proximity to mass transit or a highly suitable location, and the program must be implemented and approved by the State prior to any changes made in zoning. Please see the State's definition below.

New in 2016 was the addition of a "Starter Home Zoning District" (SHZD) which may be of interest to the committee. The SHZD must be at least three contiguous acres and contain a minimum of four units per acre.
Each unit can not exceed 1,850 sq ft., among other regulations.

Dozens of communities have created 40R districts including such local ones as Sharon, Norwood and Natick. The committee is researching this program as well as other available sources of funding to see how they
might be applicable to certain areas of the site.

A definition of 40R from the mass.gov site - Chapter 40 R

Program Description

The Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District Act, Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2004, codified as M.G.L. chapter 40R (the Act), encourages communities to create dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, including a high percentage of affordable housing units, to be located near transit stations, in areas of concentrated development such as existing city and town centers, and in other highly suitable locations.

Projects must be developable under the community's smart growth zoning adopted under Chapter 40R, either as-of-right or through a limited plan review process akin to site plan review.

Upon state review and approval of a local overlay district, communities become eligible for payments from a Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund, as well as other financial incentives.

Chapter 40R seeks to substantially increase the supply of housing and decrease its cost, by increasing the amount of land zoned for dense housing. It targets the shortfall in housing for low- and moderate-income households, by requiring the inclusion of affordable units in most private projects.