Planning staff outlines MBTA Community zoning scenarios, asks board for guidance

Planning staff updated the Concord Planning Board on the MBTA Community zoning work on Sept. 17 and asked for guidance on mapping scenarios to address comments from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC).

Staff summary and timetable: Staff said HLC returned comments focused on the requirement for a single contiguous district and recommended the town work with its GIS team to model 2–3 alternative district boundaries or parcel configurations to meet capacity and contiguity rules. Staff suggested developing options in November–December, holding a public workshop in January, and preparing a warrant article for the spring town meeting cycle (warrant closing in February; town meeting in June). Staff cautioned that HLC’s review queue is lengthy and that an application submitted by year‑end may not be reviewed before June.

Scenario variables and constraints: Board members discussed possible variables to test in GIS runs — adding parcels, parcel swaps, shrinking the district, or altering assumed parking requirements — and staff noted that changing zoning language is riskier and can create unintended consequences. Staff agreed to return with multiple modeled scenarios and to coordinate with town counsel and HLC as needed.

Next steps: Staff will ask the GIS team to run alternate parcel and capacity models and return with options at upcoming meetings in November and December, and the board tentatively agreed to hold a dedicated January session to gather public feedback on the scenarios.