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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1465 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 134
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act for community housing packages.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit D, Winchester MA
01890 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1465 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 134
By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 134) of Vincent
Lawrence Dixon for legislation for community housing packages. Community Development and
Small Businesses.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 152 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act for community housing packages.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
2following new chapter:
3 An Act for Community Housing Packages.
4 PURPOSE OF THIS ACT:
5 Over a period of many recent years, it has been concluded by many communities,
6especially in Eastern Massachusetts, that the supply of affordable, high-quality, and/or housing
7of almost any kind, has fallen short of the actual needs, thereby creating severe economic
8pressures, often for, both employees, and employers, in convenience to actual work places. 2 of 3
9 Only by, creating improved incentives, and distinct standards, might these problems be
10eased, to the extent that it is possible, and these matters, are the business, and purpose of this act.
11 SECTION I
12 1.) The Department of Communities and Development, shall be authorized to create, after
13due consideration, Community Housing Packages (CHPs), for helping to create, and recruit,
14improved economics, across the 351 municipalities of Massachusetts, to expand, and strengthen
15local communities, and especially affordable, safe, and durable housing units. These CHPs, shall
16be part of a comprehensive state planning, and coordination process, intersecting with Master
17Planning processes, as needed, and appropriate.
18 2.) The Department of Communities and Development, shall be authorized to create
19suitable Regulations, to provide for the provisions of this statute, taking into account, particular
20local preferences for, and including strengthened, safe, and durable housing units; that reflect
21state-of-the-art, fire-resistant, and energy-efficient standards.
22 3.) Such Community Housing Packages shall be based on encouraging, where possible,
23mixed-use development, and by consulting a recognized list of pre-screened, neighborhood, and
24community-friendly developers, and contractors, with high-quality lasting construction
25standards.
26 4.) The Department of Housing and Community Development, shall establish, keep, and
27annually renew, a listing of high-quality, neighborhood, and community-friendly developers, by
28welcoming, pre-screening, of such companies, interviewing them, and publicizing such
29businesses, in various appropriate positive publicity, by public announcement, and general
30media. 3 of 3
31 5.) Community Housing Packages (CHPs), shall take into account relevant modest, to
32medium intensity regional transit options, in helping newer local economic development; and
33intersect with state transportation planning.