Last Wednesday night, the Town of Lexington made history as the first in Massachusetts to vote in favor of complying with the MBTA Communities Act. In a decisive Town Meeting, support for the proposal was approved with 107 votes in favor and 63 opposed.
This state-mandated law requires 177 communities served by the MBTA to establish at least one district of reasonable size where multi-family housing is permitted by right. The act was designed to tackle the Massachusetts housing crisis by increasing the supply of available and affordable housing through transit-oriented development.
Lexington's Ambitious Plan
While the state only required Lexington to zone for approximately 50 acres, the Town's approved proposal far exceeds that minimum:
Total Coverage: 227 acres of overlay districts (nearly quadruple the requirement).
Districts: Multi-family zoning will be implemented across 12 areas of Lexington, including the Town Center.
Estimated Capacity: The new zoning creates a theoretical capacity for thousands of new units, though Town officials expect a more gradual rollout of between 400 and 800 new apartments and condos over the next decade.
Why It Matters
By being the first to cross the finish line, Lexington sets a precedent for other "Rapid Transit" and "Commuter Rail" communities that face upcoming deadlines. The move has been praised by housing advocates as a "major step" toward opening the town to a more economically diverse population, though it also faced notable local debate regarding traffic and infrastructure.
Read more about the details and the impact on the local community at the Boston Globe.
