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BasilExposition75 t1_j6j7sxh wrote

Reply to comment by jbray90 in Maura Healey wants to solve the state’s housing crisis. Here’s step one. by _Hack_The_Planet_

If you build a 2000 unit apartment complex in Sherbone, all you are doing is ensuring traffic. Zoning is designed to maximize the use of public utilities. Shit, I don't even thing Sherbone has a public water system. I know Carlisle doesn't.

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alohadave t1_j6jizb2 wrote

> Zoning is designed to maximize the use of public utilities.

And to limit development, and to limit density, and keep out undesirable people.

In Quincy, with the current zoning, I could not build my house on my lot. I cannot add a floor to my house. I cannot add an accessory dwelling unit.

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BasilExposition75 t1_j6jqxb1 wrote

I am not arguing that zoning is never used irresponsibly. It surely is.

Does your lot have town water and sewage? Gas? If there is town sewage. I don't know about the infrastructure, but I imagine an accessory might not impact the infrastructure in you area. If everyone on your street did, it might require a major overhaul. That is a decision that needs to be made at the local level.

My section of town has wells. A newer subdivision installed 10 wells some years back and everyone else's wells went dry. Now, our zoning requires subdivisions to have on shared well with an impact study done prior. The state rules would allow developers to skip that.

I hear what you are saying, but zoning laws are often there for a reason and it isn't usually to keep people out.

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jbray90 t1_j6j9dak wrote

All things any developer would have to consider when deciding how to utilize a property. This is exactly why the law was created. The mindset has assumed that only single family detached homes are reasonable and so we’ve zoned for that exclusively. Developers could literary just build single family attached homes under the new zoning that would have been impossible before. The assumption that developers are going to spend a fortune building a property with 2000 units in a location where that demand doesn’t exist is silly. Now places can be upbuilt over time without NIMBYs shooting down anything that isn’t single family detached homes

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BasilExposition75 t1_j6jflnu wrote

It really isn't lack of demand that is the issue. I am sure 2000 people would love to get into the Dover/Sherborn school system. You drop a big development into these smaller towns, the school system might not have enough seats.

There are other issues at play here. Transportation and infrastructure need to be considered. Not every street in every town has city water/sewage/gas. Not every town has public transportation and sidewalks. Each town is unique and has their own sets of challenges, thus why we have local zoning.

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snorkeling_moose t1_j6k7cv1 wrote

I mean nobody would build a 2000 unit building in a town that doesn't have water/sewage/gas to support it. You think they're just gonna slap up a building without functioning toilets, heat, or water? And if they somehow miraculously pull that off, that the building will be occupied?

And yeah, you're right, the issue ISN'T lack of demand. It's lack of supply. Hence the zoning proposition.

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Yakb0 t1_j6kb7fi wrote

>You think they're just gonna slap up a building without functioning toilets, heat, or water? And if they somehow miraculously pull that off, that the building will be occupied?

I'm sure Alpha management would be interested.

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snorkeling_moose t1_j6ke7e3 wrote

True, but to be fair I think they're like one mismanaged building away from drawing arsonists to their properties

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