PEABODY, MA — The Peabody City Council appears poised to support a re-zoning ordinance that would put the city in compliance with the state MBTA Community Act allowing for increased by-right multi-family housing after Councilors last month expressed anger and frustration over the law that threatens to withhold state grant money from cities and towns that do not comply by Dec. 31.
A revised proposal would put the potential for multi-family housing in already-developed areas with little room or chance for expansion — resulting in a maximum of 138 units able to be built compared to 1,700 in a previous proposal.
“What this comes down to — cutting to the heart of it — is looking at this as a demand of the state that I believe has to be met,” Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt told the Committee on Industrial and Community Development. “This is a reality that has been put on us.”
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The city could potentially lose out on millions of state grants if it is not in compliance by the deadline. Peabody Director of Community Development Curt Bellavance said a recently awarded $65,000 grant for Centennial Park already came with the caveat that the city would have to be in compliance to get the money.
“A number of you here, rightfully so, criticized and haven’t felt comfortable with this,” Bettencourt said. “I understand that completely. A big part of me feels the same way. But I am really concerned about a number of grants we could be missing out on.”
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While the majority of Committee members and City Councils indicated they would reluctantly support the ultimate passage of the multi-family zoning because of the revisions and the grant implications, City Councilor Tom Rossignoll voted against it.
“The only reason why we’re doing this is the state, in its infinite wisdom, is holding back funds that are needed for the city,” he said. “I’m so mad right now it’s scary.
“I will not be supporting this,” he later added. “I don’t think it’s right. I understand we’ll be losing millions of dollars. That’s not on me. That’s on the state.”
The City Council voted 8-1 to set a December public hearing on the zoning changes an then voted on them. The Planning Board is set to hold its hearing on the changes at its Dec. 5 meeting.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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