By Bob Katzen
House 28-128, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any city or town’s eligibility for public safety related grant funding from being contingent upon that municipality’s compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.
The MBTA Communities Act, according to the state’s website, requires that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria” including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children.
“Earlier this year, the Healey Administration changed the rules for the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program by denying grants to communities that are not in compliance with the MBTA Communities zoning law,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Although the huge public outcry that followed led the governor to reverse course and restore this grant funding, it is important that we add language to the zoning law to ensure that this does not happen again. Tying public safety grant funding to compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is simply unacceptable, as it not only jeopardizes the public, but also the police, firefighters and other first responders who work to keep our communities safe.”
Rep. Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn) opposed the amendment and said it is not needed because the Healey Administration showed its flexibility and announced that these grants are no longer at risk for noncompliant communities.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Didn’t Vote