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Consultants outline Canton affordable‑housing plan and flag 40 Lawton Road as potential site
Summary
A consultant team presented a draft technical assistance plan recommending zoning changes (multiplex rules, inclusionary options, ADU adjustments and density increases), tracking of deed‑restricted units, and identified the front ~5.5 acres of 40 Lawton Road as a possible site for missing‑middle housing (30–40 townhouses), while noting title and conservation issues.
Consultants working for the Town of Canton presented a draft affordable‑housing technical assistance report at the June 17 meeting that reviews the town’s current affordable housing plan, recommends targeted zoning changes to encourage more units, and inventories potential sites, including some state‑owned parcels.
The consultant (Justin, Bowman York) said the project — funded through the state Department of Housing — examined Canton’s existing plan and zoning, recommended clarified definitions (multiplex, triplex, quadplex), proposed tweaks to accessory dwelling unit rules and suggested a menu of regulation changes to incrementally encourage more housing. To improve feasibility, the consultants recommended considering inclusionary options such as 10% of units at 80% AMI for projects above a set threshold (e.g., 25 units) as a more market‑friendly alternative to deeper affordability requirements that can make projects financially infeasible.
On the inventory side, consultants reported Canton has 4,383 total housing units with 382 assisted units (about 8.72%), and only 32 deed‑restricted units tracked in the town records; many deed restrictions begin to expire starting in 2029. Consultants recommended a town tracking tool for deed‑restricted units and a proactive approach to replacing lost deed restrictions over time.
As part of a scan of state‑owned parcels, consultants identified 40 Lawton Road’s fronting area as roughly 5.5 acres that may be developable and could support missing‑middle housing; the team estimated the footprint could accommodate roughly 30–40 townhouse units if legal and environmental constraints (including possible DEP holdings or conservation interests) can be resolved. Consultants emphasized that a full title search and state conversations would be required before assuming the site is available.
Commissioners discussed the recommendations and asked for the consultant’s final edits; the consultant said they would incorporate a received comment and deliver a final report. Commissioners also discussed potential next steps for implementation, including whether some regulation changes could be packaged and advanced sooner than others.
