Dear Rockport Friends,
FYI:
Important Rockport special town meeting this Monday April 29th at 5:30pm at the Rockport High School.
Attached (and below) are viewpoints and opposing arguments sent to me from John K.
For a complete reading of the town warrant articles go to: Town Meeting | Rockport, MA (rockportma.gov)
Town Meeting booklet: Voters-Booklet-STM–2024—042924-PDF (rockportma.gov)
Planning Board report and favorable recommendation: Planning-Board-Report-PDF (rockportma.gov)
If you hate reading these things, there are audio options with these documents so you can listen to it read.
I am personally going to vote NO because I am opposed to state mandates that eliminate or reduce our home rule and local control over zoning. Nevertheless, knowing all of the pros and cons is worthwhile before going into the meeting. See you all Monday night.
Jonathan Ring
Special Town Meeting
Monday, April 29th 5:30 pm
Rockport Middle/High School Gymnasium
**This meeting is for the MBTA & Zoning Articles Only**
The MBTA Communities Act of 2021 requires Rockport residents to assess zoning changes for State compliance. This matter will be taken up for a vote at the Rockport Special Town Meeting. Here are a few of the major factors for Rockport voters to consider:
Rockport has been classified as a MBTA Commuter Rail Community
The State guidelines for ROCKPORT
A District for multifamily housing (defined as 3 or more units)
Must allow zoning capacity for a minimum 657 multifamily units.
There is very little time to inform Rockport voters of the potential impact the approval of this vote will have on the town.
Approval and acceptance of the MBTA Communities program will result in: creation of a State Overlay Zoning District where the State sets the criteria and approves or disapproves any proposed zoning amendments the State can monitor and measure for compliance the State can rescind designation based on future non-compliance.
Currently this is a mandate to ZONE FOR CAPACITY.
However, future housing production mandates are likely to occur.
There is no affordable provision in the mandate. If adopted, there is no guarantee of funding, but non-compliance is punishable by the loss to qualification for several State grant awards.