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Advisory committee supports revised inclusionary zoning bylaw amid calls for higher thresholds
Summary
The Advisory Finance Committee recommended the town adopt the Planning Board’s revised inclusionary zoning bylaw (Article 17). Committee vote was 6–1 in favor; some members voiced that the threshold should be higher (suggested 20 units) before inclusionary requirements trigger.
On Oct. 7 the Town of Westborough Advisory Finance Committee voted 6–1 to recommend that town meeting adopt the inclusionary zoning bylaw changes in Article 17 as presented in the warrant.
Committee members reviewed Planning Board edits and Affordable Housing Trust suggestions; the final warrant language includes a 120% area median income (AMI) parameter and sets the threshold for inclusionary requirements at starts of 10 units. One committee member argued the trigger should be raised (a suggested figure of 20 units was discussed) to impose inclusionary requirements only on larger developments. Other members said an amendment on the floor at town meeting could change the triggering threshold, and several committee members urged proponents to be ready to explain how the bylaw’s thresholds will work in practice.
The committee recorded its recommendation (6 in favor, 1 opposed) and asked Rod to draft a short advisory comment explaining the minority view for the warrant materials. The committee’s recommendation will be published in the advisory report for town meeting.
