After Town Meeting narrowly rejected a controversial zoning proposal aimed at complying with a state mandate promoting multifamily housing, some town leaders and residents are gearing up for a second attempt to pass the measure later this year.
At a recent joint meeting of the Fair Housing and Housing Production Plan Implementation committees, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said another Town Meeting will need to be scheduled before the Dec. 31 deadline to pass new zoning.
Resident Rick Smyers believes the key to success lies in running a better-organized campaign with simplified messaging that resonates with voters. He suggested framing the MBTA zoning as a way to reduce regulatory burdens and give property owners more rights.
“I think on the ‘no’ side, there was this interesting combination of coalitions,” Smyers said. “There’s kind of the traditional anti-development crowd that talks concisely about crowding, traffic and burdens on schools. And then there was another coalition that was kind of an anti-government group that said, ‘I don’t like a mandate, and let’s say no to the state.'”
Smyers believes the “anti-government” crowd could be swayed by messaging that emphasizes the zoning changes as a means to cut red tape and give rights back to individual property owners.
With the proposal failing by just 33 votes, Smyers is confident that a better-organized campaign with simplified messaging could make the difference. He has offered to help in any way he can to ensure the measure passes at the next opportunity.
Erin Noonan, the Select Board chair, has stressed the importance of addressing what she saw as misinformation.
“This was a very close vote. The misinformation circulated leading up to it points to the need for more discussion before the town bumps up against the year-end deadline,” Noonan said after Town Meeting. “The law is the law.”
She emphasized that while municipalities may disagree with state interventions on land use and housing policies, they are ultimately obligated to follow the laws enacted by the Legislature and governor.
“State intervention in municipal land-use policy is as common as state intervention in building and public health codes, school operations and curricula, and environmental regulations,” Noonan said. “To pretend otherwise is fantasy. Town counsel confirmed.”
Noonan expressed hope that voters would ultimately support the plan when given another opportunity.
“We are hopeful that the voters of Marblehead will choose to adopt the plan at the next opportunity,” she said. “We are a country and a commonwealth of laws. Complying with them isn’t like ordering off a menu. We don’t pick and choose.”
‘Statutory right to return’
Meanwhile, the proposed $97 million, 67-unit redevelopment of the Broughton Road public housing community has sparked concerns among residents about potential displacement during the construction process.
Fair Housing Committee member Kurt James addressed these concerns, emphasizing that current residents have a statutory right to return to the redeveloped complex.
He explained that during the estimated 18-month construction period, residents would be temporarily relocated to other public housing.
