Who wants to partner? Administration releases zoning partnership proposal.

By Amy Dain
April 3rd, 2008

For years now, people in the know about real estate development and the environment have been saying that MA’s zoning laws aren’t working well. As you know, Pioneer Institute joined that chorus.

The Patrick Administration has tasked Greg Bialecki, Undersecretary for Business Development, with finding some solutions. He’s convened a task force and he has written a preliminary framework. (By the way, Mr. Bialecki is speaking at Pioneer’s April 25 conference on cities. Join us.)

You can find the proposed framework here. Cities and towns could opt into a partnership with the Commonwealth to achieve performance goals in economic development and environmental protection. In exchange for certain regulatory powers, participating communities would commit to, among other things, planning and zoning for growth districts that could accommodate the number of new housing units equal to 5% of the total existing housing stock. Certain rules apply, including by-right zoning and minimum allowed densities.

I like the effort to give communities incentives to plan and zone for growth. I wonder, though, are there even a handful of communities east of Worcester that would opt into such a program?

What do you think of the framework? Which communities do you think might participate?