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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1220 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 313
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David T. Vieira
_________________
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 encouraging smart growth and starter home zoning adoption.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David T. Vieira3rd Barnstable1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1220 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 313
By Representative Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 313) of
David T. Vieira relative to smart growth and starter home zoning adoption. Community
Development and Small Businesses.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 241 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act encouraging smart growth and starter home zoning adoption.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 40R of the General Laws, as most recently amended by Chapter 268 of the Acts
2of 2022, is hereby amended in section 9 by striking out subsections (a) and (b) and inserting in
3place thereof the following:-
4 (a) The commonwealth shall pay from the trust fund or other funds from appropriations
5or other money authorized by the general court a zoning incentive payment, according to the
6following schedule:
7 Projected Units of New Construction Payment
8 Up to 20 $20,000
9 21 to 100 $150,000 2 of 2
10 101 to 200 $400,000
11 201 to 500 $740,000
12 501 or more $1,200,000
13 Subject to any conditions imposed by the department as a condition of approving a smart
14growth zoning district or starter home zoning district, the zoning incentive payment shall be
15payable upon confirmation of approval of the district by the department. The projected number
16of units shall be based upon the zoning adopted in the smart growth zoning district or starter
17home zoning district.
18 (b) The commonwealth shall pay from the trust fund or other funds from appropriations
19or other money authorized by the general court a one-time density bonus payment to each city or
20town with an approved smart growth zoning district and a one-time production bonus payment to
21each city or town with an approved starter home zoning district. This payment shall be $6,000
22for each housing unit of new construction created in the smart growth zoning district and $6,000
23for each housing unit of new
24 construction created in the starter home zoning district. The amount due shall be paid on
25a unit-by-unit basis in accordance with department regulations, upon submission by a city or
26town of proof of issuance of a building permit for a particular housing unit or units within the
27district.