Duxbury Approves MBTA Communities Overlay District, Funds Public Safety Positions
Town meeting votes to create multifamily housing zones while restoring police and fire positions using stabilization funds
DUXBURY - June 16 - Duxbury residents approve a new MBTA Communities Overlay District at Monday's special town meeting, creating designated zones for multifamily housing to comply with state law while minimizing potential impacts on the community.
The article passes with a vote of 255 to 152, establishing overlay districts at two existing dense residential areas – The Village at Duxbury and Island Creek Residences.
The Town submitted the zone to the state for pre-adoption review. "We did that and the state provided us with some feedback," says Steve Gandt, chair of the MBTA Communities Working Group. "They had eight items that they identified through further discussion with EOHLC that was reduced to four advisory issues."
Minor changes were made following that advisory from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
The overlay districts allow multifamily housing by right in accordance with Section 3A of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, the Zoning Act. The law requires communities near MBTA transit hubs to provide zoning for multifamily housing to support state goals of providing more housing near these hubs.
Planning Board Chair Kristin Rappe explains the town's approach to compliance focuses on minimal impact.
"Our top takeaway was that our community wanted very little impact from the state requirement, so we asked our MBTA community's working group to make this a priority. We refer to this as minimal impact zoning," Rappe says.
The strategy involves placing the overlay districts on properties where multifamily housing already exists, making it difficult to add new units. The Village at Duxbury is already at the proposed density, and the Island Creek Residences wastewater treatment facility is at or near capacity.
Selectboard Chair Brian Glennon, who also serves on the MBTA Communities Working Group, urges residents to support the article.
"I'm voting in favor of article 1 because I believe it is in the town's best interest," Glennon says. "We may disagree about how the Commonwealth has handled this process but the town is required by state law to comply."
Glennon notes that non-compliance would make the town ineligible for at least 17 state grant funding programs. In 2023-2024, Duxbury received over $2 million in grants that would be at risk, and the town has currently applied for between $1 million and $2 million in new grants.
"By voting yes the town preserves its eligibility for a number of important state grants," Glennon says. "As you know, the town like many other communities is in a very difficult financial situation."
The special town meeting also approves two citizen petition articles to use stabilization funds to restore two police and two firefighter positions that were cut after a failed override vote. Article 4, which increases the police salaries budget by $186,648, passes with a vote of 241 to 78. Article 5, which increases the fire salaries budget by $217,321, passes with a vote of 260 to 63.
Derek Bennett, the proponent of both articles, emphasizes the importance of public safety.
"Let's be clear, public safety is not optional. It's not a luxury. These aren't extras. They are essential," Bennett says. "Police and firefighters protect our homes, respond to our schools, and run toward danger when others can't."
Patrick Dwyer, president of Duxbury Firefighters Local 2167, thanks residents for their support.
"The bond rating is not coming to your house at 2 in the morning when you have a medical emergency. The bond rating is not putting out the fire, but the men and women of Duxbury Fire Department are, and right now we're short," Dwyer says.
Finance Committee Chair Betsy Sullivan acknowledges the difficult decision to use stabilization funds for operating expenses.
"I certainly for 30-odd years have been adamant in stabilization, the uses of stabilization, always putting money aside, not taking up for an operating expense, and I surprised myself and others I think that I absolutely support using these funds," Sullivan says.
However, she cautions that this is a one-time solution.
"We cannot after I've made this impassioned speech to support this, we cannot do this again. We cannot use stabilization next year," Sullivan says. "We absolutely have to come to you with a plan to support these departments and other departments."
The meeting also approves several other articles, including:
- Article 2, amending zoning bylaws to regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which passes 296 to 44
- Article 3, adding an ADU exemption to the zoning bylaws, which passes 305 to 25
- Article 6, appropriating $500,000 from water retained earnings for water quality improvement projects, which passes 235 to 26
- Article 7, appropriating $25,000 from free cash to fund the town's Fourth of July parade in 2026, which passes 195 to 46
- Article 9, appropriating $67,950 for capital projects, which passes 146 to 18
- Article 10, making supplemental appropriations of $271,933, which passes 135 to 19
The special town meeting adjourns after completing all business on the warrant.
Was heartening to see Duxbury Town Meeting members cut through all the conspiracy theories and misinformation spread by the local Republican Town Committee and others to do the right thing on the MBTA Communities proposal.