NMCOG presents four regional housing strategies to Westford Planning Board, urges local priorities
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Summary
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments told the Planning Board that current growth "is not consistent with the needs of the communities" and outlined four strategies — including 'missing middle' housing and a regional housing service office — for Westford to prioritize.
A representative speaking for the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) briefed the Westford Planning Board on early findings from the "At Home in Greater Lowell" initiative and asked which strategies Westford would like NMCOG to develop further.
The speaker said NMCOG found that "the growth that is happening is not consistent with the needs of the communities." They outlined four strategies the Affordable Housing Trust also supports: strategy 1.1 (described as "missing middle" housing), strategy 3.1 (creating a regional housing service office), strategy 3.3 (expanding a home-buyer program), and strategy 6.3 (a regional infrastructure growth plan). The speaker said a regional housing service office "would be really huge."
The speaker suggested returning the item to a future meeting to give Westford an opportunity to state which strategies it wants NMCOG to continue developing. The transcript records this as a discussion item; no vote or formal board direction was recorded during the session.
Board members did not record formal decisions on the strategies during this meeting; the speaker and the Affordable Housing Trust were identified as interested parties who may shape next steps.
