Duxbury Explores MBTA Communities Compliance Options
Working Group Focuses on Already Developed Areas to Meet State Requirements While Preserving Town Character
DUXBURY - March 17 - The MBTA Communities Working Group is advancing three potential compliance options for the state's MBTA Communities law, all involving already developed areas in Duxbury.
Selectboard member Brian Glennon provided an update at Monday's Selectboard meeting, outlining the group's progress following their March 13 meeting with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the town's technical consultant.
"The MBTA communities working group last met on Thursday the 13th to discuss compliance options," Glennon says. "MAPC attended our meeting and at our request provided us with a few potential compliance options."
All three options include Island Creek, which was a main component of the proposal during previous discussions. The first option combines Island Creek with the Village at Duxbury. The second pairs Island Creek with the Southscape condominium complex on Lincoln Street, potentially including some town-owned land across the street.
"There is a little bit of town-owned land across the street that potentially could be included to eliminate some undeveloped land on Southscape," Glennon explains.
The third option combines Island Creek with Deacon's Path (also known as Duxbury Woods) and Bay Farm on Park Street.
Glennon emphasizes that all properties under consideration are already developed, addressing a key concern from previous discussions about preserving undeveloped land.
Board member Amy MacNab sought clarification about the implications of using already developed land, asking, "So utilizing already developed land, but it then zones it for an increased density?"
Glennon confirmed this understanding, indicating the approach would allow for potential future redevelopment at higher densities while focusing on areas that are already built up rather than undeveloped parcels.
The Working Group has scheduled two public outreach sessions for residents to learn more and provide input. The first session is Tuesday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the second is Wednesday, March 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Merry Room in the Duxbury Free Library.
"The MBTA Communities Working Group needs your engagement," Glennon says, reading from an announcement flyer. "Join us to lend your voice to our plans for achieving compliance with the state law while preserving Duxbury's distinctive character and valuable state grants."
The flyer also notes that the town is "pursuing technical compliance with the law while maintaining local control and minimizing the potential for out-of-place large-scale housing."
Town Manager René Read confirms that the town continues to work on a legal complaint against the state regarding the MBTA Communities law, though it has not yet been filed.
The MBTA Communities law requires municipalities served by the MBTA to create zoning districts that allow multi-family housing near transit stations. Communities that fail to comply risk losing access to certain state grants and funding opportunities.
The Selectboard addressed several other matters during Monday's meeting:
- Water Quality Study: The board accepted a donation of up to $10,640 from Peter Quigley to fund a new water quality study of Duxbury Bay. The study will be conducted by John Brawley, PhD, who led the technical contribution to a similar report in 2009. Quigley emphasized the importance of regular water quality monitoring, noting concerns about nitrogen runoff, eelgrass die-off, and changing biological activity in the bay.
- Alternative Energy Committee: The board approved reducing the Alternative Energy Committee's membership from 11 to seven members to address quorum challenges. Committee Chair Wendell Cerne explained, "Currently the committee size is set at 11. And we have already three empty seats. And nonetheless, it's still difficult to reach a quorum."
- Taxation Aid Committee: Following the approval of Article 12 at the March 8 town meeting, the board approved the creation of a Taxation Aid Committee to help defray real estate taxes for elderly and disabled persons of low income. The committee will include the chairman of the Board of Assessors, the Town Treasurer, and three Duxbury residents appointed by the Selectboard.
- Liquor Licenses: The board approved several liquor license matters, including a change of manager for Brothers Marketplace and renewal of seasonal liquor licenses for Duxbury Package Store and Duxbury Beach Park 2.
- Event Permits: The board approved permits for the sixth annual Pinewood Animal Hospital 5K race on June 8, the MS Cape Cod getaway bike ride on June 28, and the Duxbury Education Foundation road race on July 4.
The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.