B4E Fall 2023 Warrant Article Endorsement Results
WA 1, Special Town Meeting 4: Select Board’s Consensus MBTA-CA Compliant Warrant Article - Passed with 84% voting Yes
Brookline for Everyone believes that abundant and affordable homes are central to achieving Brookline’s core values—including our deep commitments to climate sustainability, a thriving local economy, and social equity. In 2021, the Massachusetts legislature passed the MBTA Communities Law, requiring communities like ours to create multi-family zoning districts around transit stations. To comply with the law, those zoning changes must be adopted by December 31, 2023.
This Warrant Article is the meaningful MBTA-CA compliance option that enables Brookline to enhance our walkable, diverse and economically vital neighborhoods on Harvard Street while also creating the opportunity for at least 900 new units of housing at all income levels to be developed. And therefore we recommend FAVORABLE ACTION as filed; NO ACTION on ALL amendments, referrals, or alternatives.
In particular, this Warrant Article
- requires that 15% of all new units on Harvard Street be deed-restricted housing affordable to a range of income levels;
- incentivizes ground floor commercial development to maintain and enhance Brookline’s main commercial corridor;
- reduces Brookline’s fossil fuel footprint by permitting 4 story multi-family development near businesses and transit; promotes diversity by fostering opportunities for neighbors at all income levels to know their neighbors;
- uses the Planning Department’s study of Harvard Street and the resulting Form Based Codes to provide Brookline with an innovative roadmap to guide changes to our 50-year-old zoning so we can respond to 21st century challenges.
And lastly, by passing this Warrant Article Brookline can begin the process of changing our core zoning codes from expressing 50-year-old exclusionary, fossil-fuel-based suburban ideals to codes that articulate our 21st century values of a climate resilient, economically thriving and welcoming community.
Article 6 - Rezoning of Three Lots on Mason Terrace - Passed
Brookline for Everyone supports FAVORABLE ACTION on WA 6, as amended by the Advisory committee, which is a very modest rezoning of three parcels on Mason Terrace (in Precinct 11) from single family (SC-7) to two family (T-5). We understand that all the immediate abutters and TMMs from P11 are also supportive. The primary impact of the change is to allow one of the three properties, located 99 Mason Terrace, to be subdivided which would allow a second one or two-family home to be built to the rear of the existing home. This change will make it possible for a family member (who grew up here) to move his family back to Brookline, which the family otherwise couldn’t afford. We support this as a small step to creation of additional homes in this transit rich location.
Article 8 - Senior Property Tax Work Off Program - Withdrawn
The Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Program has been a vital program that allows income-eligible seniors to reduce their property tax burden by volunteering for the town up to 125 hours. Brookline for Everyone supports exploring more creative solutions to help fixed-income seniors remain in the town as their property values increase, and finding new ways to help fixed income residents who rent, while still maintaining the services the town needs. We recommend FAVORABLE ACTION on warrant article 8.
Article 11 - Renaming the Community Preservation Community the Community Preservation Act Committee - Passed
Brookline for Everyone remains excited about the potential that the funds raised by Brookline’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act has for the development of housing for low- and moderate-income residents in Brookline, and strongly supports the vital work that the committee has undertaken since their inception. While a relatively minor semantic change, inserting “Act” into the official title of the committee responsible for recommending the how Brookline should use these newfound funds is a valuable change; and we recommend FAVORABLE ACTION on warrant article 11.
Article 16 - Home Rule Petition for rent stabilization and tenant eviction protections - Passed
As the last few years have shown us, an imbalance between housing supply and demand has led to a skyrocketing of rental and home ownership costs throughout the Boston Metro Area. With the rental vacancy rate at less than 6%, landlords are more likely to discriminate among would be renters, arbitrarily raise rental rates even for long-term residents, and evict “less desirable” tenants. We applaud the petitioners for highlighting the very real problems our housing shortage is causing, for renters across the income spectrum but especially low-income renters. Rent stabilization can be an important tool in the toolbox to help current residents stay in their homes.
The details of a rent stabilization plan are crucial to balancing the precarity many renters in Brookline, and the Boston region, face with the reality that rent control can pit long-time residents against newcomers, reduce mobility, and disincentivize much needed new construction. Much like a local option real estate transfer fee and the recent fossil free fuel construction regulations, needed but nuanced policy options are best developed in partnership across communities to create effective, flexible, state level local opt-in tools. A Brookline-specific home rule petition short circuits these efforts. We encourage our local leaders and activists to continue engaging on rent stabilization local option efforts at the state level, as part of a broader housing strategy to address our regional housing affordability concerns.
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