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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Assessment: In general, additional layers of review and approvals hinder the creation of new and diverse types
of housing. Arlington has robust development review processes, though not an excessive number of reviewing
bodies. As in many towns, these bodies represent valid but sometimes competing priorities, such as conservation
and historic preservation, that must be balanced with fair housing goals. The extent to which achieving this
balance is possible often depends on the composition and charge of the boards. For example, members of the
ARB have expressed an interest in greater levels of affordable housing in otherwise market-rate development
projects.
In Arlington, the number of identified significant buildings and the extents of the historic districts are not a
significant barrier to fair housing and the creation of housing options (other than the additional discretionary
review processes that increase risks and costs of development). That said, historic policies may prove a barrier
for the alteration of individual homes for accessibility purposes.
Conservation review represents a greater challenge for advancing fair housing, primarily due to the way in
which Arlington’s watersheds overlap with its zoning map. Specifically, Mill Brook and its associated wetland
buffers run parallel to Massachusetts Avenue for a large portion of that street’s length. This triggers Conservation
Commission review for a significant portion of the parcels in town that are zoned for multifamily use. This is not to
minimize the importance of wetlands conservation, but rather to identify the substantial restrictions on many of
the few parcels where multifamily use is permitted. Clear performance standards for development in these areas
could protect the wetlands while limiting the impact