Affordable Housing

The Town has had some success in bringing affordable, mixed-family housing options to Weston, and Town Meeting has consistently approved funding for different affordable housing projects, as well as approving the establishment of the Weston Affordable Housing Trust. As the demand for mixed housing options and affordable housing increases, Weston is in a position to catch up and meet the state's minimum requirement. 

A Plan

The Select Board began the process of meeting the demand and encouraging greater diversity in Weston’s housing stock by pursuing a Housing Production Plan, which was approved by the state in 2016. This plan outlines strategies for Weston to increase its affordable housing under its terms and needs rather than being subject to developments that bypass the Town's Zoning By-laws and stated policies and preferences for affordable housing.

In Partnership

One of the strategies outlined in the 2015 Housing Production Plan is for Weston to partner with a developer and enter into a "friendly" 40B process. By partnering with a developer, Weston can avoid assuming the full cost of developing on its own. This route has proven successful for Weston in the past with partnership developments at Winter Gardens, Dickson Meadow, 809-811 Boston Post Road, 680 South Avenue, and Highland Meadows. 

Town Initiatives

Weston has also had success pursuing its own development of housing, starting in 1980 with the Brook School Apartments and most recently with the re-purposed municipal buildings on Warren Avenue through Weston's Affordable Housing Trust. The Trust is currently working with Habitat for Humanity to develop four to six more affordable units on 0 Wellesley Street.

Additionally, Weston has partnered with the non-profits Weston Affordable Housing Foundation Inc. (WAHFI) and Weston Community Housing (62 units), which has provided Weston with more opportunities to increase rental housing options. Currently, WAHFI is working on developing a two-family house on Birch Lane. Past work includes Church Street, Viles Street, and Pine Street.

Weston is a founding member community of the Regional Housing Services Office, a regional agency that assist eight neighboring towns with the municipal function of affordable housing.

Learn More

To learn more about what the MGL 40B entails and what Weston is doing to meet its requirements by following the links below:

How to Follow Progress

The Housing Production Plan is under the management of the Affordable Housing Trust. The Trust also reviews any new 40B proposals and is currently exploring an affordable homeownership opportunity fund and small rental projects.

Developers will present their proposal for informational purposes to the Affordable Housing Trust, the Planning Board, and the Select Board after (and sometimes before) they file their site review application with MassHousing. When a developer files a site review application, they are seeking a Project Eligibility Letter or PEL from the state. MassHousing will notify the town of the application and seek comments from Town boards and departments within a 30-day period.

If MassHousing issues the PEL, which it typically does, the developer will then file for a Comprehensive Permit with the town's Zoning Board of Appeals. There is not a set time-frame for the state to issue the PEL. Comprehensive Permits go through a prescribed hearing process with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Subscribe to receive notification of when these committees post meetings, agendas and minutes to follow progress.