Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)

Citation: Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)
Jurisdiction: Arlington (municipal)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/57214/637641171662530000 ↗

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Even in districts where multifamily housing can be built, it is not permitted as a “by right” use. If a use is permitted
“by right,” it can be approved without discretionary review. Single-family houses are allowed by right in all
residential districts; duplexes are allowed by right in all residential districts except R0 and R1 (the single-family
districts) and in all business districts. However, no housing larger than two units is allowed by right anywhere in
Arlington. Even in districts where the primary use is designated for three-family dwellings, townhomes, and
apartment buildings, those uses must undergo additional review, which is discussed in greater detail in the
following section.
The districts that allow multifamily housing are almost entirely along the Massachusetts Avenue, Summer Street,
and Broadway corridors. The R2 District, which allows two-family housing, is located primarily in East Arlington.
Within each district, the Zoning Bylaw includes dimensional requirements that limit the shape and size of
buildings, such as lot size, building height, setbacks, and much more. For mixed-use buildings in business districts,
dimensional requirements are generally compatible with existing development on commercial corridors and are
conducive to infill development. However, in multifamily residential districts, many of these requirements—
including density, minimum lot area, height limits and height buffers, floor area ratio, usable open space, and
off-street parking—can discourage or even preclude multifamily development that would be suitable in these
areas and that would provide a broader range of housing types.
Assessment: Overall, the Zoning Bylaw is extremely complex for a community of Arlington’s size. Complex codes
require experience and legal skill to