Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Zoning

In January 2021, The MBTA Communities Act was passed as part of an effort to strengthen the state’s economy and relieve the affordable housing shortage. 

The act requires cities and towns serviced by the MBTA to establish “at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.”  As of right development means that applicants have more control over how they want to develop a piece of land, and the town has limited choice to change those plans.

The district must also be built close to public transportation (commuter rail, bus station, ferry terminal or subway).

Lexington’s Requirements:

• A minimum of 50 acres set aside for multi-family housing zoning
• A housing unit capacity of at least 1,231 units
• A unit density of at least 15 units per acre

Article 34:

Article 34 was legislation approved in 2023 by Town Meeting to meet and exceed Lexington’s requirements under the MBTA zoning act.

• Sets aside 227 acres of Lexington land for multi-family housing
  • Spread out over 12 districts, including Lexington center
• Unit capacity of 12,546 units

Proponents of the legislation say it is an opportunity to “help solve [the] Lexington and regional housing crisis,” (2023 Annual Town Meeting Presentation) reduce dependency on automobiles, and provide a customer base for nearby local businesses (2024 Zoning Booklet, Section 7.5, pg 81).

Article 2:

Article 2 is a citizen’s petition to amend Article 34 by reducing the multi-family housing unit capacity and/or temporarily halt development “to allow [for] a reexamination of the impacts” of the zoning (Article 34 Amendment).

It proposes:

• ~78 acres of land set aside for zoning
  • Spread out over 2 districts, not including Lexington Center
• A unit capacity of 2550 units

Voting:

On March 3, 2025, Lexington’s Annual Town Election will allow residents to vote for Town Meeting members representing their precinct.

Then on March 24, 2025, the Annual Town Meeting will vote on whether or not to accept the Article 2 amendment to Article 34.