The Lexington Cluster Housing Study Group analyzes proposals for multi-family housing zoning with the goals of: 

• communicating what we are learning to our fellow Town Meeting members, and

• when inadequacies are found, advocating for proposal improvements.

We believe Lexington needs to participate actively in addressing the region's housing shortage. We share the sentiments incorporated in the Lexington Next Comprehensive Plan that a diverse range of housing types are needed here.

Our current focus is on how best to implement the changes mandated by the state's MBTA Communities zoning law. This is coming forward as Article 34 at the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. We are publishing a series of posts on this topic to the Town Meeting Members Association mail list. Copies of these posts can be found below.  UPDATE: Article 34 was adopted on 4/12/23 by a vote of 107-63-1.

1. How Does the MBTA-Communities Law Relate to Affordable Housing

2. The Logic of Reverse Musical Chairs - The Regional Effect of MBTA-C Zoning in Lexington

3. How Would a 0.5 Parking Space per Unit Minimum Affect Lexington?

4. Mixed-Use Incentives in Lexington’s MBTA-Communities Bylaw

5. Zoning Does Not Equal Building

6. Overview of Final Bylaw Draft

7. It's Lexington's Time to Lead (Again)

8. Bill McKibben Weighs in

9. What Affects the Likelihood of Development in MBTA-C Districts?

10. Examples of Rezoning from Arlington

11. We Estimate 500-700 Units of Housing Will Be Built  in Ten Years for the Proposed MBTA-C Districts

Image: Cutty Grove, Oregon