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Concord housing groups press to update housing production plan as MCI redevelopment advances
Summary
At a March 30 Concord housing roundtable, trust leaders urged an immediate update to the town’s housing production plan to capture MCI redevelopment opportunities; the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust reported funding commitments, a proposed 91B acquisition and recommended zoning and program changes including support for ADUs and attainable‑housing goals.
Keith Bergman, chair of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, told the joint housing roundtable on March 30 that Concord should begin updating its housing production plan immediately to align with the town’s once‑in‑a‑generation MCI redevelopment process.
“Let’s engage the community in the housing production plan process without delay,” Bergman said, arguing that goals set in 2022 need revision now that MCI reuse and other large projects are moving forward. He outlined the Trust’s finances and project pipeline, saying the Trust has committed $4.5 million to projects, has received $6 million since 2019 and is seeking $785,000 from the Community Preservation Act at this year’s town meeting; that would leave an uncommitted fund balance of about $2,293,000 if approved.
Bergman also described an acquisition proposal for 91B Main Street: the Trust has committed $629,000 toward the property and estimates an additional subsidy of $1.3 million to $2.9 million would be needed depending on whether the project develops four or six affordable units.
The presentation reviewed the history of long‑running projects such as Junction Village and two pending 40B developments (Novo Riverside Commons and Residences at Thorough), noting that when both 40B projects pull building permits Concord’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) could jump and change the town’s planning posture.
Select Board Chair Mark Howell outlined the upcoming MCI Concord master‑planning process, saying a contractor has been hired and the schedule calls for an illustrative plan by late June and draft zoning for fall consideration. Howell said the master plan will incorporate municipal consolidation, wastewater considerations and negotiations with the state about housing targets on the MCI site.
Trust and housing‑group participants emphasized a broad approach to housing: Wendy Relli of the Select Board and Cameron McKenna (Select Board member) pressed for clarity on terms such as “affordable” and “attainable,” and noted zoning changes and smaller‑lot development as tools to produce missing‑middle housing. Matt Johnson of the Housing Foundation highlighted a recent ADU workshop that drew about 100 attendees and said roughly eight ADUs have been constructed since the town changed ADU zoning.
The meeting closed with committee members urging that updates to the housing production plan be governed in a way that coordinates with the select board and the master‑planning process, and that public engagement begin sooner rather than later.
Next steps: the Trust recommends launching the housing production plan update process promptly and supporters said they will push for CPA funding at town meeting to help finance planning and feasibility work.
