THE MBTA COMMUNITIES law, which requires Massachusetts cities and towns to zone for multifamily housing in areas close to public transit, sparked a battle over local versus state control. Some local officials chafed at the idea of state officials imposing zoning rules for their neighborhoods, and unsuccessfully went to court in a bid to weaken the law.
A similar but quieter fight, without the Supreme Judicial Court contretemps, played out earlier this year over accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs, in-law apartments or “granny flats.” Used to house young and old relatives, and sometimes viewed as a less expensive alternative to senior housing, they’ve now become a key part of a state-level push to create more housing supply to meet intense demand.
On February 2, new state regulations went into effect allowing ADUs “by right,” meaning a special permit isn’t required for units under 900 square feet in districts zoned for single-family homes. Gov. Maura Healey’s housing office estimates that roughly 8,000 to 10,000 ADUs could be built over the next five years as a result…