Urban Affairs Committee backs eight-unit affordability threshold, ends developer buyout

MARLBOROUGH — February 23, 2023 — Marlborough committee moves to scrap affordable housing buyout and lower threshold to eight units. The Urban Affairs Committee, chaired by Councilor Kathleen Robey, agreed Thursday to rewrite Chapter 650 to require 15 percent affordability in developments of eight or more units, rising to 20 percent above 18 units, with one-third of affordable units priced for households below 50 percent of area median income. The current ordinance applies only at 20 units and allows a per-unit buyout that Council President Michael Ossing said runs $50,000 to $60,000 — against a real replacement cost near $500,000. "You can't build a tent with the money that we're getting for these places," Ossing said. The Planning Board sent a 7-0 favorable recommendation Dec. 19. The committee will finalize language March 6 ahead of a March 13 Council deadline; missing it restarts the public hearing process. Marlborough currently holds 1,857 qualifying units against a 1,755-unit state threshold. The committee also approved 5-0 a Harry's Construction wall sign at 561 Boston Post Road East.