Urban Affairs panel advances MBTA housing overlay to full Marlborough council

MARLBOROUGH -- September 30, 2024, Marlborough committee advances MBTA Communities overlay ahead of Dec. 31 state deadline. The City Council's Urban Affairs and Housing Committee voted 5-0 Monday to recommend a new Section 650-37A creating a Multi-Family MBTA Housing Overlay District covering three sub-districts: Royal Crest/Firewood, Lincoln/Mechanic, and Cimarano. The draft requires at least 10 percent of units to be affordable to households at 80 percent of area median income, with 70 percent of those units targeted to Marlborough residents "where legally permissible," and sets parking at a minimum of one space per unit. City Solicitor Jason D. Grossfield's July 18 letter said the draft reflects June feedback from the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and consultant RKG Associates. The Planning Board sent a favorable recommendation Sept. 23. Councilor Sean Navin called it "a very well thought out plan."