11/23/21, 11:00 AM - Public Hearing: Community Development and Small Business, Virtual Hearing
| Status: | Normal |
| Date/Time: | 11/23/21 11:00 AM |
| Location: | Virtual Hearing |
| Committee: | Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business (JCD) |
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Topic: Matters pertaining to zoning and planning:
This is a public hearing that will be held virtually. Written testimony can be submitted via email to Julia.Canty@mahouse.gov or Leon.David@masenate.gov. If you wish to provide oral testimony during the hearing, use the following link to sign up: Oral Testimony Sign-Up. If testifying as a panel, all panelists will need to sign up individually. Please note that oral testimony will be limited to 3 minutes.
11/23/2021 - Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses
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Legislators
(2)
Bills
(8)
Edited transcripts may contain spelling errors due to broadcast quality, or the technical nature of the content.
29.75 [REP30.04 COPPINGER:]30.65 So30.86 first31.84 we33.54 have34.45 um35.65 Representative35.76 gentile36.17 Who36.72 was36.82 speaking37.32 on37.49 behalf37.84 of38.28 House40.54 Bill40.54 28640.7 an41.17 act42.16 authorizing43.27 municipalities43.44 to44.01 expand44.44 certain44.76 funds44.92 for45.5 acquisition45.6 of46.54 land46.73 to46.91 be47.46 used47.69 for47.97 real49.04 trails.49.15
49.29
56.05 [REP56.28 GENTILE:]56.74 [HB286]57.08 [SB148]57.66 Well,58.12 thank58.42 you58.89 very59.1 much,60.01 cheer60.44 Carpenter.60.89 Uh61.01 Good61.37 morning.61.89 And62.06 uh62.16 Senator63.14 Kennedy63.68 and63.75 other63.9 members64.08 of64.18 the64.29 committee,64.98 thank65.11 you65.41 very66.54 much66.99 for67.31 the67.39 opportunity67.91 to68.07 speak68.52 today.69.07 I'm69.37 happy69.75 to70.06 report71.24 that71.46 amended71.86 language73.44 from73.68 house73.91 28674.54 And75.42 Senate75.55 14875.97 an77.04 act77.18 authorizing77.31 municipalities77.87 to77.97 expend78.28 funds78.37 for78.48 the78.7 acquisition78.83 of79.1 land80.04 to80.84 be81.58 used81.75 as82.18 real82.64 trails83.64 was83.79 Included83.89 in84.71 outside85.54 section85.74 1085.95 of86.8 the88.24 commonwealth88.4 physics88.69 F.88.79 Y.89.41 202289.52 Budget.89.61 We90.04 worked90.42 in91.74 partnership91.86 with92.26 the92.32 Governor's93.02 office,94.34 particularly94.44 the94.87 Department96.34 of96.54 Conservation,96.61 Recreation,97 the97.1 Department97.89 Transportation98.04 and98.38 the98.86 Department99.05 of99.28 Revenue99.93 to100.13 draft101.34 language101.5 that101.72 would101.86 benefit102.28 our102.49 communities103.01 as103.02 well103.03 as103.04 language103.05 that103.06 was103.07 acceptable103.08 as103.02 well103.03 as103.04 language103.05 that103.06 was103.07 acceptable103.08 to103.59 all103.71 the103.91 interested104.03 secretariats,104.57 rail106.24 trails106.52 encourage107.02 people107.6 to107.9 exercise108.1 outdoors108.61 and109.94 they110.1 offer110.21 substantial110.54 positive111.18 benefits111.75 to112.27 the112.42 communities112.52 in113.15 which113.27 they113.51 are113.6 located,113.67 including114.84 the115.39 revitalization115.5 of116.43 town116.52 centres,116.8 increasing117.94 business118.49 opportunities,118.93 decreasing120.44 traffic121.09 congestion121.68 and122.36 air122.49 pollution122.63 and123.74 increasing123.97 tourism.124.47 I'm125.54 grateful125.69 to126.15 my126.28 colleagues.126.41 Representative127.1 Sabadosa127.74 Senator129.04 Eldridge129.48 and130.3 Senator130.47 Velis130.84 for131.94 working132.11 with132.48 me132.67 to132.8 help132.89 our133.17 communities133.31 access133.92 this134.47 crucial134.65 source135.11 of135.67 funding.135.77 I136.64 want136.69 to136.84 thank136.9 you137.17 again137.28 for137.71 the137.86 for138.28 the138.81 time138.97 to139.32 speak139.41 before139.65 the139.91 committee140 and140.74 for140.95 taking141.05 me141.37 out141.47 of141.6 turn141.68 today.141.95 Thank142.25 you142.71 very142.82 much.143.05
190.49 [COPPINGER:]191.07 speaking191.18 on191.63 behalf191.76 of191.99 H192.84 285192.95 which193.31 rep193.61 Duffy193.76 was194 going194.16 to194.6 speak194.77 on194.9 as195.74 well195.92 and196.08 that196.18 is196.34 an196.76 act196.88 to197.1 help197.67 developers198.61 revitalize199.5 underutilized200.23 buildings200.24
200.62
205.55 [AARON205.84 VEGA:]206.41 [HB285]206.61 Thank206.83 you207.31 Mr207.67 Chairman208.01 Mr208.48 Chairman208.84 Carpenter208.93 and209.03 Senator209.34 Collins209.55 Great210.07 to210.47 see210.55 everybody210.7 once210.97 again.211.13 Um211.48 I211.73 do211.93 believe212.59 that213 Duffy213.29 is213.44 en213.51 route213.64 so213.71 hopefully213.97 she'll214.11 be214.49 able214.65 to214.94 join215.03 this215.22 meeting215.67 this216.11 hearing216.17 at216.31 some216.48 point.216.78 Uh217.12 I217.74 know217.98 she218.84 sent219.46 some219.73 testimony,219.92 written220.13 testimony.220.82 Um221.5 so221.76 just222 just222.06 briefly222.19 I'm222.43 very222.54 fond222.68 of222.81 this223.08 bill223.26 as223.39 this223.92 was224.25 something224.36 that224.4 I224.59 filed224.81 back224.94 when225.44 I225.78 was226.02 with226.14 you226.37 all,226.9 we226.99 worked227.12 with227.22 mass227.32 development227.42 to228.84 come229.08 up229.18 with229.36 the229.47 language,229.58 think230.13 of230.75 this231.54 as231.82 the231.9 Brownfield232 remediation232.09 fund.232.33 Many232.77 of232.97 you233.21 have233.29 probably233.42 utilized233.68 that233.78 fund234.33 in234.84 your235.08 city235.13 or235.51 town.235.89 Um236.04 it's236.25 a236.36 huge236.47 tool237.18 for237.64 us238.08 as238.77 we239.47 develop239.71 uh239.82 redeveloped239.96 properties,240.15 huge240.25 tool240.82 for241.27 us241.63 here241.7 in241.92 planning.242.44 Another242.8 director243.15 of243.28 the243.94 Economic243.95 Development243.96 office243.97 for243.98 Holyoke.243.99
244 So244.01 Economic243.95 Development243.96 office243.97 for243.98 Holyoke.243.99
244 So244.01 Economic243.95 Development243.96 office243.97 for243.98 Holyoke.243.99
244 So244.01 we've244.31 utilized244.49 things244.97 like245.14 the245.24 Brownfield245.32 Mediation245.78 Fund246.22 numerous246.47 times246.81 and248.34 as248.58 many248.69 of248.85 you248.91 know,249 in249.49 our,249.73 in250.08 our250.18 urban250.29 course,250.55 not251.19 just251.51 our251.69 gateway251.78 cities252.09 but252.68 in253.2 our253.29 urban253.39 cores253.63 as254.02 we254.13 look254.24 to254.4 rehab254.51 old255.16 buildings.255.57 Um256.29 sometimes256.86 just257.67 the257.82 pure257.92 getting258.33 things258.69 up258.88 to258.98 code259.09 can259.49 can259.7 sink259.98 a260.22 project,260.28 uh261.14 updating261.62 sprinkler262.19 systems,262.63 an263.3 elevator,263.45 getting264.26 things264.98 up265.16 to265.27 code265.37 can265.86 often266.2 be266.65 millions266.87 of267.2 dollars267.3 before267.67 you267.92 can268.08 put268.18 some268.34 drywall268.42 up269.2 here270.34 locally270.62 are271.31 redevelopment271.92 authority272.65 and273.04 again,273.14 many273.33 of273.47 you273.53 probably273.59 have273.83 redevelopment273.92 authorities274.35 within274.73 your274.96 cities275.09 and275.39 towns.275.5 Um276.05 we're276.63 looking277.02 at277.29 trying277.37 to277.55 set277.7 up278.27 a278.34 similar278.4 fund278.79 like279.18 this279.38 locally279.57 that280.1 we280.23 could280.35 have280.51 some280.72 funds281.04 available281.36 to281.76 people281.98 that282.26 take282.37 on282.61 some282.83 of282.97 our283.06 more283.17 challenging283.35 buildings284.05 to284.78 get285 rehab.285.22 How286.14 just286.31 having286.5 that286.68 extra286.82 couple287.15 $100,000287.4 to288.35 maybe288.43 cut288.62 some288.83 of288.94 the289 costs289.09 and289.58 close289.85 that290.17 gap290.41 as290.98 you291.15 know,291.27 the291.5 gap291.61 between292.34 making292.95 these293.27 projects293.4 happen293.77 and294.12 make294.22 these294.36 projects294.5 have294.83 these294.96 projects295.09 fail295.4 is295.92 often296.21 very296.54 thin.296.8
298.44 So298.45 this298.46 fund298.95 similar299.23 to299.69 the299.7 Brown299.71 for300 remediation300.1 fund300.18 would300.39 be,300.45 could300.93 be301.3 a301.5 competitive301.74 grant,301.91 you302.02 can302.18 even302.64 maybe303.31 working303.66 something303.77 where303.99 there304.39 is304.81 a305.13 local305.23 match.305.32 Um305.38 obviously305.44 running305.77 this306.54 out306.85 of307.59 mass307.88 development308.07 uh,308.22 probably308.46 makes308.74 the309.35 most309.75 sense,310.02 but310.23 maybe310.31 there's310.56 somewhere311.1 else,311.54 Maybe311.74 it's311.98 D312.43 A312.61 C312.79 D312.9 but313.06 this313.15 would313.34 allow314.14 us314.25 to314.4 build314.52 on315.01 other315.19 grant315.32 programs315.74 that316.19 the316.58 city316.89 provides.317.37 Maybe317.48 even317.57 local317.78 tax318.41 incentives318.9 as319.12 we319.39 bring319.69 these320.33 buildings320.61 back320.73 up320.94 up321.09 to321.4 code,322.34 bring322.86 them323.13 back323.25 online323.54 as323.98 functioning324.28 buildings324.88 once325.35 again325.57 providing325.83 taxes,326.16 providing326.59 jobs,326.93 we're327.33 providing327.42 housing.327.77 Um328.74 so328.94 again,329.12 hopefully329.39 this329.66 is329.82 something329.92 that330.18 the330.34 committee330.47 can330.8 entertain330.98 um331.74 and332.06 look332.2 for332.36 ways332.52 to332.81 to333.04 move333.18 this333.37 forward.333.55 Um334.12 happy334.55 to335.04 answer335.1 any335.29 questions.335.42 Um336.12 but336.54 again,336.71 hopefully337.05 this337.4 is337.52 something337.61 that337.9 resonates338.22 with338.8 all338.96 of339.1 you339.21 uh339.63 in340.03 the340.14 cities340.23 and340.48 towns340.59 that340.78 you340.87 may340.94 have341.06 as341.27 well.341.39 Just341.59 giving341.79 those341.98 developers342.34 a342.94 little343.01 bit343.24 extra343.37 support343.75 to344.47 get344.6 these344.77 projects344.92 off345.34 the345.5 ground.345.6
355.14 Mr355.14 trip.355.44
357.74 [SEN357.74 COLLINS:]359.54 Yes,360 yes,360.2 this360.3 is360.55 senator360.98 Collins.361.4 Thank361.51 you361.7 very362.84 much363.5 Aaron363.61 for363.93 joining364.05 us364.2 this364.54 morning364.85 and364.93 for365.03 your366.07 testimony,367.09 Congratulations367.35 on367.46 your367.67 new368.54 role.368.98 Um369.63 I370.04 hear370.41 a370.62 lot370.72 and371.33 clear372.64 your373.33 um373.87 your374.65 viewpoint374.99 here375.28 as375.6 as375.75 you376.18 discuss376.29 the376.59 urban376.86 core378.53 challenges379.34 we're379.62 facing379.8 some379.87 in380.04 my380.45 district380.85 to381.14 think381.24 I've381.4 been381.63 part381.71 of382.34 the382.65 district382.86 that383.22 on383.32 the383.43 edge383.58 of383.78 this383.86 are383.96 you384.51 represent384.69 and384.91 soon385 to385.16 be385.64 more385.77 of386.54 the387.08 community387.17 in387.89 Roxbury.389.44 Um,390.03 there390.21 are390.34 a390.56 lot390.63 of391.1 projects391.35 like391.65 that393.14 and,393.43 and393.49 a393.67 lot393.77 of394.23 assets394.49 that394.75 are394.98 in395.27 sort395.74 of397.14 older,397.41 that397.57 could397.94 be398.48 utilized398.56 for398.61 a398.88 lot399.44 of399.85 challenge399.96 that400.07 we're400.31 trying400.38 to400.65 meet.401 So401.32 one401.66 question401.72 I401.96 had402.64 was402.75 in402.97 terms403.07 of403.16 the403.89 contributions404.02 to404.14 the404.61 fund,405.37 How405.87 are406.14 the406.43 fund407.11 receive407.39 contributions407.9 this407.98 from409.34 an410.58 assessment411.51 uh,411.82 potentially412.04 is412.23 it412.32 sort412.41 of412.95 a413.22 feed414 by415.54 development,416.31 um,416.7 firms416.89 or417.17 is417.29 it,417.61 you417.91 know,418.02 is418.28 it's418.42 something418.51 that418.75 the418.9 city419.13 would419.66 raise419.75 charitably419.81 or419.89 is420.27 it420.67 just422.14 public422.84 contribution?423.19
423.57 [VEGA:]424.01 Uh,424.02 great424.03 question424.04 senator.424.05 And424.06 I424.57 think424.63 that,424.92 you425.28 know,425.37 similar425.45 to425.73 the425.82 Brown425.9 for426.17 remediation426.24 fund,426.8 there427.07 was,427.17 there427.41 was427.61 a427.72 tide427.8 revenue428.4 source.429.12 Um,429.67 I430.15 leave430.37 that430.56 up430.72 all430.89 to431.07 you431.2 to431.33 find431.43 the431.78 best432.08 path432.33 forward,432.64 but433.01 you433.23 know,433.33 I433.62 wouldn't433.84 obviously434.16 support434.73 increasing435.13 a435.72 fee435.81 or436.14 a436.29 tax436.38 to436.86 support437.1 this437.49 fund.437.68 Perhaps438.23 there438.74 could438.87 be439.02 Arpa439.13 funds439.56 utilized440.24 to440.78 start440.86 the441.16 fund.441.28 Perhaps441.65 the442.01 percentage442.11 of442.73 some442.84 developer442.97 fees443.54 across443.83 the444.17 state444.25 could444.54 go444.68 into444.88 to445.5 maintain445.6 it.446.07 I446.51 also446.84 think447.11 that447.43 if447.98 you448.2 created448.31 it448.65 to448.77 sort448.88 of449.05 be449.12 a449.23 matching449.29 fund,449.81 it450.12 would,450.22 would450.53 require450.9 cities451.28 and451.56 towns451.69 to452.02 also452.21 find452.68 a453.04 way453.23 to453.42 support453.72 a454.27 program454.33 similar454.73 to455.05 this.455.19 Um,455.62 but456.64 you're456.94 exactly457.03 right.457.43 It457.68 needs457.79 a458.03 funding458.12 source,458.45 uh,458.97 similar459.35 to459.62 Brown's459.74 remediation,460.02 similar460.95 to461.43 all461.6 the461.81 other461.92 tools462.09 in462.42 the462.48 toolbox462.57 that463.08 that463.34 we463.48 utilize463.58 you464.08 know464.17 separate464.45 of464.83 state464.91 tax465.14 credits465.43 which465.81 comes466.05 down466.28 the466.47 longer466.57 longer467.13 road467.53 as467.78 far467.88 as468.05 revenue.468.16 Um468.75 So469.22 you're469.87 exactly470.1 right470.49 finding470.78 that471.25 finding471.45 that471.7 stream472.25 of472.74 funding472.88 um473.44 Perhaps473.79 if474.54 this474.73 is474.92 something475.04 that475.3 the475.43 committee475.53 would475.83 would476.03 entertain476.19 you476.94 know,477.11 I477.24 would477.3 obviously477.45 you478.04 know478.4 uh478.69 invite479.11 uh479.7 former480.1 Mayor480.37 Rivera480.58 now481.39 the481.57 mass481.68 development481.93 head482.48 of483.37 the483.51 mass483.57 development.483.77 Maybe484.25 I484.65 have484.71 that484.89 conversation485.04 as485.58 well.485.67 Um486.15 Happy486.63 to487.16 brainstorm487.28 if487.87 there's487.98 a488.16 small488.23 group488.55 that488.71 wants488.8 to488.95 talk489.01 about489.24 that489.43 but489.69 you're490.23 exactly490.54 right.490.93 It's491.29 always491.55 about491.74 where491.88 the492.02 money492.09 comes492.32 from.492.55
494.34 [COLLINS:]494.67 Yeah494.87 I495.19 figured495.28 to495.63 be495.74 of496.06 course496.38 like496.67 other497.07 for497.32 state497.87 appropriation498.22 but498.42 I498.77 agree499.01 about499.21 mass499.9 development.500.18 The500.49 great500.63 and500.86 unique501.01 thing501.24 about501.82 them.502.19 Maybe502.35 you're502.66 playing503.31 authority.503.35 I503.72 know504.07 locally504.14 in505.14 boston's505.8 um506.06 is506.24 there506.57 cause506.7 our507.39 status507.65 that507.95 allows508.07 them508.15 to508.29 do509.14 bonding509.15 um509.16 and509.57 stretch509.77 those510.06 dollars510.24 out510.52 further510.68 sometimes510.93 and511.39 again511.5 you512.24 know512.37 they've512.55 had512.85 created513 programs513.32 in513.63 the513.69 past513.76 but514.06 they514.15 do514.26 use514.49 a514.74 combo514.81 of515.3 uh516.44 resources516.48 local517.11 you517.66 know517.95 like518.19 you518.4 project518.56 programs519 are519.57 a519.64 good519.99 example520.12 but520.6 there521.2 is521.41 a521.47 local521.54 estate522.04 in522.53 a522.65 private522.93 component523.26 there.523.72 So523.94 but524.84 anyway525.39 it's525.7 great525.87 idea526.54 and526.97 hopefully527.34 we527.66 can,527.77 I528.34 would528.76 love529.14 to529.28 see529.37 something529.51 happened529.82 uh530.64 to531.25 help531.4 address531.65 those531.98 urban532.18 core532.38 issues.532.62 So532.85 thank532.96 you533.19 for533.27 your533.37 testimony534.04 in534.53 field534.63 legislation.534.87
535.84
539.84 [COPPINGER:]539.84 Thank540.08 you.540.18 I540.24 do540.52 any540.77 other540.9 members541.15 of541.22 the541.29 committee541.6 have541.79 any541.92 questions542.45 for542.91 ERin543.37 on543.66 H543.93 285.543.94 285.543.94
569.13 [VINCENT569.46 LAWRENCE569.77 DIXON:]570.54 [SB152]570.76 Thank571.23 you.571.82 Ah572.63 Co572.8 chairs573.64 Senators,573.81 Representatives574.02 and574.15 staff.574.5 My574.79 name575.3 is575.51 Vincent575.91 Lawrence576.16 Dickson576.52 of576.83 60577.14 Lake577.75 Street578.35 unit578.49 in578.94 Winchester579.84 Maso580.01 and580.33 89580.45 0.580.91 I581.15 appear582.03 to583.04 support583.29 S583.64 15584 to584.45 and584.92 act586.44 for586.68 community587.19 housing587.32 packages.587.95 The588.13 relevance588.28 to588.77 housing588.95 is589.02 that589.39 Winchester589.65 where590.17 I590.78 live591.46 like591.63 many592.84 surrounding593.07 communities,593.19 we593.52 noticed593.64 such594.08 as594.62 Stone595.13 of595.44 Maldon,595.56 Melrose596.44 Wakefield596.95 Reading597.09 and597.57 others598.15 nearby598.5 are598.63 clearly598.73 exhibiting599.07 many599.65 of599.95 the600.52 same600.53 concerns600.54 about600.55 stretched600.56 local600.57 planning600.86 functions,601.27 revenue,601.94 economic603.14 development603.69 issues604.18 and605.04 the605.2 need605.29 to605.55 have605.63 useful605.82 information606.24 and606.88 tools607.04 in607.47 the607.58 face607.67 of608.02 substantial608.14 development608.75 projects.609.28 Such610.74 projects611.12 are611.68 often611.81 needed612.1 for612.94 various613.13 reasons,613.53 including613.98 affordable614.49 housing614.99 needs,615.38 but616.24 are616.4 not616.47 always616.74 welcomed617.03 in617.54 their617.65 form617.86 or618.34 substance618.56 scale619.64 and620.28 density620.41 are620.92 both621.03 important621.32 cosmetic621.91 issues622.47 and622.95 have623.09 potential623.26 impacts623.74 on624.25 local624.38 school624.69 budgets624.96 and625.41 other625.54 public625.72 services,626.07 especially627.14 eastern627.93 massachusetts628.29 is629.05 deeply629.19 challenged629.65 by630.24 issues630.36 of630.87 insufficient631.02 affordable631.8 housing632.37 on632.92 desirable633.36 developments633.96 and634.66 often634.78 overwhelmed635.16 local635.85 development636.16 contact.636.71
638.01 This638.3 bill638.63 seeks638.75 to639.15 provide639.88 mechanisms640.1 by640.42 which640.52 the641.01 Department641.1 of641.58 Housing641.71 and642.21 Community642.96 Development643.37 can643.91 usefully644.38 assist644.74 cities644.9 and645.42 towns645.55 but646.07 especially646.52 smaller647.34 cities647.47 in647.89 smaller648.31 towns648.47 with648.98 useful649.61 overall650.94 information651.18 in651.5 those652.05 communities652.21 with652.36 up652.45 to652.67 date653 planning653.7 processes.653.92 This654.36 approach654.49 would654.61 be654.69 a655.42 tremendous655.63 what655.74 we655.98 might656.31 call657.02 turnkey658.04 information658.22 in658.59 smaller659.16 communities.659.44 Such660.14 information660.27 and660.63 useful661.83 guidelines662.04 could662.29 help662.39 to662.83 balance662.97 the663.56 overwhelming664.03 nexus664.17 of664.47 heavy664.76 duty665.84 developers,666.41 economic667.02 needs667.17 and667.25 the667.79 striving667.9 to668.27 keep668.84 important669.36 aspects669.46 of669.75 local670.74 character671.15 drawing671.35 from671.74 some672.65 important673.38 anecdotal674 information674.13 and674.36 other674.85 Western674.96 and675.47 pacific676.37 jurisdictions.676.7 These677.33 provisions677.64 hope677.76 to678.05 help678.44 screen678.59 for679.23 developers679.39 who680.2 operate680.53 by680.81 high681.27 quality682.14 standard.682.31 We're682.98 dedicated683.08 to683.35 being684.02 community685.14 cooperative,685.87 interested685.99 in686.39 building686.58 high687.13 quality,687.67 durable687.84 and688.16 mixed688.57 use688.73 and689.01 mixed689.33 income690.64 development690.78 in691.02 so691.41 doing691.61 this691.73 would691.83 be691.89 a692.13 set692.23 of692.63 tools692.76 that692.98 can693.35 plug693.66 into693.8 the694.24 overall694.78 challenges694.96 that695.3 must695.56 be696.24 met696.43 in696.78 ways696.94 that697.73 facilitate698.3 continued698.59 long698.87 term699.43 economic699.74 growth699.87 for701.04 massachusetts701.22 in701.62 ways701.78 that701.92 do702.16 not702.61 produce702.71 a703.13 tidal703.41 wave703.54 of703.94 cheap,704.17 ill704.45 fitting705.64 development705.93 without706.03 the706.71 context706.78 of706.86 the707.11 many707.72 different707.84 and708.2 varied708.71 community708.83 and709.16 local709.59 values709.72 that709.83 we710.74 treasure.710.93 Of711.34 course,711.87 flexible,712.3 smaller712.83 scale712.99 and713.26 local713.56 mass714.38 options714.64 will714.89 need714.98 to715.11 be715.79 considered.715.8
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2141.07
Speaker List:
- Rep Coppinger - Chair
- Rep Gentile - Speaker on behalf of HB 286
- Sen Collins - Legislator
- Sen Kennedy - Legislator
- Aaron Vega - Economic Development, Holyoke
- Vincent Lawrence Dixon - Speaker on behalf of SB 152
- Salim Furth - Co-director of the Urbanity Project, Mercatus Center
- Benjamin Fierro - Attorney, Lobbyist for Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts
- Rep Duffy - Speaker on behalf of HB 285
Bills:
- HB 286 - An act authorizing municipalities to expand certain funds for the acquisition of land for rail trails.
- SB 148 - Similar to HB 286, related to rail trails.
- HB 285 - An act to help developers revitalize underutilized buildings.
- SB 152 - Act for community housing packages.
- HB 298 - Legislation to expand housing supply through changes in zoning rules.
- SB 157, SB 158, SB 159 - Various bills affecting housing and zoning laws and planning.
Synopsis:
The legislative committee hearing covered several bills, primarily focused on housing4, urban development, and the use of land resources in Massachusetts. The session opened with Rep Gentile discussing HB 286 and SB 148, which are aimed at authorizing municipalities to use funds for acquiring land for rail trails. Gentile emphasized the potential benefits for communities, including increased tourism and decreasing air pollution, and expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the Governor's office and colleagues.
The discussion moved to HB 285 with Aaron Vega and Rep Duffy highlighting efforts to revitalize underused buildings, especially in gateway cities like Holyoke. This initiative seeks to address the financial hurdles developers face when bringing old structures up to current safety codes. Both underscored the importance of local involvement and state backing to bridge financial gaps in such urban redevelopment projects.
Sen Collins and Vega debated potential funding sources for these redevelopment efforts, considering the possibility of using existing funds or new state allocations, while recognizing the necessity for innovative solutions to fund urban core issues economically.
Vincent Lawrence Dixon spoke in favor of SB 152, explaining how it could provide smaller towns with needed planning resources to manage development projects effectively. He outlined the current disadvantages smaller communities face without comprehensive planning tools accessible through state intervention.
The hearing also addressed HB 298, which seeks to ease the housing supply strain by reforming local zoning laws. Salim Furth provided testimony endorsing aspects of the bill that would empower local authorities while streamlining the development approval process, suggesting it could help reduce residential segregation and lower housing costs.
During the discussions on SB 157, SB 158, and SB 159, Benjamin Fierro voiced opposition, explaining these bills could complicate and slow down housing production by introducing more hurdles. He stressed the significant issue of 'butter appeals,' which often delay projects unnecessarily and increase costs.
Finally, the interplay between state-level legislation and local execution was apparent throughout the hearing, with multiple speakers exchanging viewpoints on balancing growth and preserving local character in urban and suburban settings. The consensus highlighted the need for legislative support to harmonize state policies with local infrastructure and community needs.
