Multi-Family Housing Community Workshops

March 28th Workshop:

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Base and NHP Zoning Parameters
• Unit Capacity Comparison
• Zoning comparison subdistrict maps
• HONE Full Maps 03.2024
• FAQ

As part of the yearlong effort by the Housing Needham Advisory Group (HONE), the Town will host its third and final community workshop on Thursday, March 28th from 7-9 pm both in-person in Powers Hall at Needham Town Hall and virtually via Zoom (registration is required to participate via Zoom, please click this link to register).  

All residents are encouraged to participate to:

• Review HONE’s draft multi-family zoning recommendations
• Provide feedback on the zoning recommendations to ensure that they are reflective of community input

This is your final opportunity to weigh in on the Town’s MBTA Communities zoning before HONE finalizes its recommendations to the Planning Board and Select Board in April. 

What is Multi-family Zoning?

The MBTA Communities law requires 177 municipalities in the Greater Boston area to confirm that they have a zoning district of reasonable size where multi-family housing (3+ units) is zoned for by-right.  Needham does not currently comply with the law and the Town’s zoning must be revised to meet the new requirements. 

Stay Informed

To learn more and subscribe to updates on the multi-family zoning initiative in Needham, please visit the project page on the Town’s website. You’ll also find copies of all the presentation materials from the two prior community workshops, links to recordings of the workshops and HONE working group meetings, as well as background info. on the MBTA Communities Law. 

November 9, 2023 Community Meeting

The Housing Needham Advisory Group (HONE) held the first of 3 community meetings on November 9, 2023. HONE members and Town staff hosted stations specific to different districts being considered for the zoning changes with a focus on areas along the Highland Avenue and Chestnut Street corridors.  The Town sought feedback on things such as height, density, lot coverage and preferences for mixed-use versus stand-alone housing. If you have any follow up feedback, please submit it to planning@needhamma.gov.

To view a recording of the November 9, 2023 workshop, please click this link.

Agenda for the November 9, 2023 Community Meeting, and Presentation Boards

January 18, 2024 Community Meeting

The Presentation given at the January 18 Community Meeting can be found here. 

Click here to take the survey from the January 18 Community Meeting. The survey will be available until January 24, 2024.

Survey Maps related to the January 18th Community Meeting can be found by clicking here.

To view a recording of the January 18, 2024 Community Meeting, please click this link.