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Developers, planners and business groups push zoning, permitting and construction cost reforms to speed housing production
Summary
Municipal leaders, regional planners, developers and business groups urged lawmakers to combine zoning and permitting reform, incentives and cost‑reducing measures — including a proposed sales‑tax exemption on construction materials and support for modular manufacturing — to accelerate housing production.
Leaders from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, NAIOP, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation told the Joint Committee on Housing that increasing housing production requires coordinated changes to zoning, permitting, construction cost structure and incentives.
Adam Chaplain, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said municipalities need flexibility and targeted funding to meet local housing goals and urged the committee to consider local‑option revenue sources and reforms to tools such as inclusionary zoning, 40R smart‑growth overlays and site‑plan review definitions. He said local officials welcome state partnership but also fear losing local authority on land use.
Marc Draisen, executive director of the…
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