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What you're not hearing about MBTA Communities

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What you're not hearing about MBTA Communities

It doesn’t feel particularly super, but today is Super Tuesday.

Registered Massachusetts voters who are not enrolled with a political party may vote in the presidential primary of their choice.

Locally, there is an important municipal election in Wellesley today. 

Polls are open until 8 p.m.

MBTA Communities: What's not being talked about right now 

A page one story in the Globe Monday documented the growing revolt in some municipalities against complying with the state’s MBTA Communities Act.

It’s a disturbing trend.

But it's not really that surprising. Massachusetts has a decades-long history of resistance to zoning. This was never going to be easy.

Still -- given the continued exodus of workers from the state largely attributed to our housing supply and affordability shortage -- this law is really important.

Worried about long waits in the ER? Can’t find daycare? Don't like all those empty shelves in the grocery store? Frustrated by how long it takes to get your latte?

Then you should care about housing in your community. And so should all those folks accusing the state of overreach, blackmail, or deep-state meddling.

Still, the latest news reporting and local public radio shows are only focused on part of the story.

Yes, some municipalities are freaking out.

But others are accepting the law, accepting their collective responsibility. They're taking advantage of the opportunity to make their communities more vibrant and welcoming.
 
Arlington, Lexington, and Salem have had their MBTA Communities compliance plans reviewed and approved.

Close to 30 others, including Newton, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Dedham, Essex, Everett, Grafton, Haverhill, Lakeville, Lowell, Malden, Mansfield, Medford, Northbridge, Pembroke, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Somerville, Stoneham, Taunton and Wareham, have put new zoning in place and await a determination from the state that they've met the guidelines.

Yes, there’s some serious teeth-gnashing happening in some cities and towns.

But by all accounts, many other civic leaders are rolling up their sleeves, doing thoughtful work determining where in their communities to unlock opportunities for people to live.

... that includes Needham 

The committee in Needham that has been diligently working on its MBTA Communities compliant plan will unveil its proposed up zoning maps at a community meeting, on March 28, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

Needham plans to present two scenarios to the Town Meeting this fall: One that complies with the law plus an add-on that would unlock more opportunities for more residents.

(Spoiler alert: We suspect we'll endorse the add-on.)

... also Wellesley 

I’ve expressed my reservations about Wellesley’s plan, which is slated to go before the Town Meeting in May. But at least, the town has every intention of complying, which isn’t true everywhere.

There’s still time to be heard too: Wellesley will hold a virtual public forum to discuss the town's plans for compliance on Thursday (March 7) at 6:30 p.m. Register.  

... then there’s Watertown 

While many communities are proceeding cautiously as they create their MBTA Communities compliant plans, the majority of nearly 200 attendees at a community meeting in Watertown last week indicated in a straw poll that they want the city to go big in unlocking opportunities for new multi-family housing in and around Watertown Square.

View the meeting recording, two scenarios for Watertown Square streetscapes, and the zoning slides, and read the Watertown News recap.

The next meeting -- April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at 66 Galen St. -- will dig deeper into the MBTA Communities zoning and overall Watertown Square plan.

...and can I get an amen? 

One more housing-related item before we move on: 

More than 150 members of the Massachusetts clergy – including many from our chamber communities -- just sent a letter to the state Legislature urging them to prioritize the housing shortage.

Today’s grab bag 

  • Nocion Therapeutics, a six-employee clinical-stage biopharmaceutical startup that lists the UPS store in Watertown Square as its corporate headquarters, just raised $62 million to continue the development of its chronic cough drug. Maybe it's time for an office?

  • Former City Councilor Greg Schwartz, an MD, has entered the race to succeed Rep. Ruth Balser, in the 12th Middlesex District House Seat in Newton. Two current councilors -- Rick Lipof and Bill Humphrey -- are also running. (Fig City News)


  • Reality TV star Jon Taffer's restaurant "Taffer's Tavern" has closed its location at Arsenal Yards. Taffer's opened in the summer of 2022. (Boston Restaurant Talk).


  • Newton South High School is hosting its annual Newton Career Pathways Fair on March 27, 6:30 p.m. to introduce young people to valuable careers, employers, and job training/programs. Employers interested in participating should email Kathleen Sabet.
 
  • The Ellie Fund hosts its Red Carpet Gala, on Sunday (March 10) at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston. Guests will view a live broadcast of the Academy Awards and celebrate the work of the Ellie Fund to support breast cancer patients and their families. Details.

  • Babson College’s Graduate Spring Career Fair is March 19 from 3 p.m. with the option to interview candidates afterward from 5-6 p.m. Companies must have either an open paid summer Internship or a permanent full-time role to attend. Register or email questions

  • Are you planning a grand opening or celebrating a major renovation or new location? Learn about the chamber’s ribbon-cutting program and how each event helps a chamber member nonprofit. We’ll even bring the scissors.

Proposed water bottle ban in Needham concerns restaurants

Needham is gearing up to consider a bylaw proposal that would ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic water bottles.


And that worries many restaurant operators.

Jay Spencer, owner of French Press Bakery & Café in Needham Center told the Needham Observer last week that bottled water has two benefits:

“One is it’s the most nutritional beverage that you can buy at almost any location when you go and look upon the items that are available to purchase.

“And the funding that comes from the sale of water bottles allows an independent restaurant to invest in other items that are far more expensive, in order to be great.”

Spencer notes that he and other restaurants often invest in materials designed the reduce their carbon footprint, even when they are more expensive. For example, French Press does not use Styrofoam, hasn’t used straws in more than two years, and has never used plastic bags.

But it's the lack of available alternatives that makes banning water bottle sales difficult, especially for fast casual restauranters like pizza, burrito, and sandwich shops that have already experienced trouble surviving in Needham.

A ban could mean a loss of thousands of dollars in revenue – sometimes many thousands – for these small independent merchants.

Our chamber does support adding bottled water and other noncarbonated beverages to the state bottle deposit law as a way to encourage more of these containers to be recycled. 

Banking small gains fans 

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting story (free link) about how many consumers are pushing back against a wave of large bank consolidation and turning to smaller community banks.
 
“Many have found that making a switch not only gets them more face time with bankers, but they are also earning more and paying less,” writes reporter Imani Moise.

You'll find a list of our favorite banks here.

This Boston idea could really benefit some in Newton 

Finally, today, because we're focused on what happening in our west suburban communities, I hadn’t been paying attention to the uproar surrounding plans to move John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in Roxbury to the abandoned West Roxbury High School complex along the VFW Parkway.

My mistake.

That’s because the school project included a plan to build a new stop along the Needham Line commuter rail next to the campus.

That isn’t all that far from Oak Hill Park, the Mount Ida/UMass campus, and the businesses at Wells Ave. in Newton.

Last week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu scrapped the school relocation. But Wu still wants to proceed with the commuter rail station idea, Globe’s Alan Wirzbicki reports.

A new station could make the abandoned site and nearby Millennium Park more accessible, Wirzbicki notes. With some last-mile shuttles and commuter parking, it could benefit businesses and residents along the south side of Newton too.

We'd urge Newton's local elected leaders to join forces with Wu in supporting the new station.

That’s what you need to know for today -- um... Cinco de Marcho? --  unless you need to know about things you never knew were named after people.
 
Make it a great day!
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
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