Good Intentions Bad Outcomes: Why Our Housing Rules Aren’t Working & How We're Beginning to Fix Them

Why does building a home in Newton often require years of special permits, committee hearings, and appeals? And why does this exhaustive process so often produce expensive McMansions instead of the diverse housing options our community needs? The answer lies in both the zoning regulations and the permitting process itself. Over time, Newton’s complex rules were designed to give neighbors and City Councilors a voice in planning and design decisions. But together, they have created a system so lengthy, uncertain, and costly that builders are often forced to pursue the largest and most expensive projects simply to make them financially viable. As a result, the process actively discourages the smaller-scale, more attainable housing types that many residents say they want. In recent years, Newton has adopted as-of-right, form-based zoning for infill sites in village centers, as well as for smaller “missing middle” and adaptive reuse projects. Important questions remain, however, about whether these new rules are succeeding in expanding housing choices while preserving the character of the city’s neighborhoods. Join Newton for Everyone for a deep dive into the city’s current permitting pipeline and the new zoning approaches intended to improve it. To help frame the conversation, urban designers and planners from Utile will discuss their collaboration with Newton’s planning staff on recent zoning reforms, as well as the innovative zoning initiatives they are leading in Somerville, other Boston-area suburbs, Cape Cod, and Vermont.