Kingston Approves MBTA Zoning District Amid Controversy

Town votes for multi-family housing development, citing potential grant funding benefits

KINGSTON, MA - November 19 - In a contentious special town meeting Tuesday night, Kingston residents voted to establish an MBTA zoning district, paving the way for multi-family housing development near transit areas. The decision, which passed with 192 votes in favor and 167 opposed, came after heated debate over potential impacts on schools, infrastructure, and local control.

The new zoning overlay district, required by state law for communities with access to MBTA service, allows for higher-density housing development within a half-mile radius of the Kingston MBTA station. It also includes areas around the Kingston Collection mall.

Town Planner Valerie Massard presented the proposal, emphasizing that Kingston secured a waiver to include the mall area in the district. "We know that our mall is failing. We know that Macy's is going to close soon, and we know that we just built 282 apartments up there at the mall," Massard said.

The plan allows for up to 15 dwelling units per acre in one subdistrict and 16 units per acre in another. It counts 282 existing apartments towards the state-mandated total of 805 units.

Proponents argued that approving the zoning was crucial for maintaining access to state grants. Town Administrator Keith Hickey warned, "If this article is voted down this evening, it's not going to stop the development at the mall. What you're going to have is some other sort of development at the mall that this community is going to have very, very little say in."

Selectman Tyler Bouchard, initially opposed to the zoning change, urged support. "We actually have an opportunity here to adopt something that's forceful and use it to turn against the state themselves," he said. Bouchard argued that rejecting the zoning could lead to 40B affordable housing projects with less local control.

Opponents raised concerns about increased school enrollment and infrastructure strain. Jeanne Coleman of Howlands Lane cautioned, "If we're adding students at 50 a year that are coming out of a high-density building, then we're going to be in deficits for years and years to come."

Kim Emberg, a member of the Board of Selectmen speaking for herself, opposed the article. "I refuse to support the loss of local control," she said. "We, the voters of Kingston, establish our zoning bylaws based on how we want to grow sustainably and how we want to build our community."

The zoning change allows for mixed-use development, including commercial uses on the ground floor of residential buildings. It also sets standards for building height, open space, and parking.

Massard emphasized that the zoning does not require construction, only that the town allow for potential development. "We're not building it. We have to zone for it," she said.

The approval makes Kingston eligible for a share of $3.96 billion in state infrastructure funding recently approved for MBTA communities that adopt the zoning, in addition to the grants.

In other business, the town meeting approved $60,000 for a schematic design to address repairs needed for the Kingston Elementary School roof. Voters also authorized $900,000 for preliminary work on a new municipal well and approved changes to the town's recycling bylaws.