Introducing the Section 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool
Join us for a webinar on February 27 to learn more!
Written by MAPC Land Use & Data Services Staff
February 8, 2024 - In 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature added a new section to the state’s Zoning Act (MGL Chapter 40A) — MBTA Communities Multifamily Zoning Requirement (Section 3A) — that requires each municipality in the MBTA district to zone for by-right multifamily housing near transit stations or smart growth locations.
As an organization committed to advancing smart growth, MAPC strongly supports Section 3A and views the new law as aligned with key aims of our regional plan, MetroCommon 2050. MAPC is working with several communities to prepare for Section 3A compliance, including analyzing existing zoning, crafting zoning scenarios, conducting compliance model testing, supporting local adoption efforts, and more.
Throughout this involvement in community planning processes, MAPC staff have learned about community members’ priorities and preferences, specific to their cities and towns. We have listened to their questions about 3A, many of which span communities and contexts, including:
- Why should we zone for more housing?
- What does Section 3A have to do with equity?
- What should we consider in locating the 3A district?
MAPC’s latest Section 3A planning assistance aims to support community efforts to respond to this last question. The interactive 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool is a decision-support tool that uses data to help municipalities within the MAPC region identify locations for 3A zoning districts that also advance regional and local goals. Furthermore, once 3A district locations have been determined, the tool can help ensure the zoning is successful in meeting housing goals.
Access the 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool at: mapc.ma/3a-district-suitability
Q&A
How does the 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool help communities identify locations for 3A zoning districts?
The Tool takes in factors related to transportation, accessibility, development feasibility, residential capacity, and climate risk to highlight areas where increased housing density will best advance equity and sustainability. Clusters of parcels/sites with higher suitability are considered strong candidates for 3A zoning districts.
How does the Section 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool fit into planning processes?
The Tool is intended to complement stakeholder-driven processes to plan for more housing through new 3A zoning districts. It can be referenced at different points in the planning process to help facilitate conversations around areas suitable for new housing production.
When a community is reviewing existing plans, its study area, and the surrounding context, for example, the Tool can map data layers that enhance the collective understanding of current transportation, economic, housing, and climate conditions.
Or, when a community is engaging in a visioning process to determine where more housing can support neighborhood goals and housing needs, the Tool can provide an interactive, adaptive interface that quickly visualizes potential locations and supports broader discussion.
Municipalities can also utilize the Tool once potential 3A zoning districts have been decided and adopted to assess development potential both within these zoning districts and elsewhere in the community.
Through these and similar functions, the Tool can play an important part in a multi-faceted planning process pertaining to 3A compliance.
How can I learn more about the Section 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool?
To learn more, join MAPC on Tuesday, February 27, from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. for a presentation of the 3A District Suitability Analysis Tool and discussion of its application in community planning processes.
Register here for the webinar: mapc.ma/3ATool.
More information about Section 3A and MAPC’s technical assistance is available at mapc.org/mbta-multifamily-zoning.