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Building Belmont's Future

About the Project

The Town of Belmont is partnering with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the regional planning agency for Greater Boston, and Metro West Collaborative Development, to update the town’s current Housing Production Plan (HPP) and launch a preliminary visioning process that will likely inform a future Comprehensive Plan. Together, the HPP and vision will help the community better understand local constraints and opportunities for development and collectively plan for the future. These plans will also guide anticipated future planning efforts, which will work to address the housing needs and demands documented in the HPP, in ways that align with the community’s vision.

Contacts

Timeline

Fall 2022

1. Form HPP Subcommittee
2. Collect and analyze data on housing needs
3. Town wide engagement event about housing needs

Winter 2022/2023

1. Town wide engagement about housing opportunities and the relationship between housing and other community priorities

Winter 2023

1. Analyze housing development constraints and opportunities
2. Town wide engagement event about housing goals, strategies, and opportunities

~ May 2023

1. Final Housing Production Plan and draft community vision

Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for upcoming events!

Previous Events

Belmont Housing Production Plan Public Forum | November 3, 2022

Housing Production Plan

What is a Housing Production Plan?

Housing Production Plans (HPP) are a specific planning tool defined under Massachusetts state law (MGL Chapter 40B) and regulated by the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). HPPs help communities understand their housing needs, set housing goals, and identify strategies to achieve those goals. To go into effect, the plan must be adopted by the Planning and Select Boards and be approved by DHCD.

HPPs must include at least the following elements:

1. Assessment of housing needs and demand
2. Analysis of development constraints
3. Identification of opportunity sites for new housing development
4. Specific housing goals for the next five years, including numeric targets for new housing production
5. Recommended policies and programs to help achieve housing goals

The Town of Belmont, though the Planning Division, is undertaking this plan with the help of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the regional planning agency for the Greater Boston region. The Building a Better Belmont planning process will help increase awareness of housing needs in town and illustrate ways to expand and diversify Belmont’s housing stock while also increasing affordability for people at a range of incomes.

What is Affordable Housing?

“Affordable Housing” is different from housing that costs within what a family can afford. Affordable Housing has restrictions on its deed that preserve affordability for decades or in perpetuity, ensuring that income-eligible households can stay in their communities. Today most Affordable Housing is built by nonprofit organizations using a variety of public subsidies, or by market-rate developers through local inclusionary zoning policies.

A household’s pre-tax income and household size determine their eligibility to live in deed-restricted Affordable Housing. A household is considered “low-income” if its annual income is 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) as set by HUD. AMI varies based on household size and geographic region. For the greater Boston region, including Belmont, 80% AMI is $78,300 for a single person and $111,850 for a family of four. Many Affordable Housing units serve households with even lower incomes.

Household Size	80% AMI (Low Income)	50% AMI (Very Low Income)	30% AMI (Extremely Low Income)
1	$78,300	$49,100	$$29,450
2	$89,500	$56,100	$33,650
3	$100,700	$63,100	$37,850
4	$111,850	$70,100	$42,050

Source: HUD FY2022 Income Limits

Planning process in Belmont

This effort will be a community-driven visioning process to identify the greatest housing needs in the Town and develop a set of actionable recommendations that the Town and partners can take to advance housing solutions over the next five years. The project team will organize multiple community engagement opportunities to understand and raise awareness of housing needs, establish housing goals, and identify strategies and actions to increase housing opportunity for Belmont residents. These events will include town wide presentations – through webinars or in-person events – online surveys, and smaller focus groups.

Most community engagement for Building Belmont's Future will be conducted in virtual formats. Hosting public forums online and creating digital surveys that are accessible at people’s convenience will help the project team to engage the maximum number of residents while prioritizing public safety. There may be some opportunities for in-person participation through focus groups and town events. Keep an eye on our website for more information!

HPP Subcommittee: All decisions in the Building Belmont's Future planning process will also be guided by an HPP Subcommittee. This Subcommittee is made up of Belmont residents and staff with expertise on topics broadly related to housing, including health, wellbeing, aging, and education. The HPP Subcommittee will meet regularly during the course of the planning process to review and provide feedback on data, draft goals and strategies, and plan recommendations.

Learn More

Chapter 40B Housing Production Plan

Massachusetts Affordable Housing Resources

Visioning

Belmont HPP Livability and Quality of Life Visioning

The Building Belmont’s Future HPP process will also include a community visioning exercise that will illustrate how livability principles can be incorporated into Belmont’s housing and land use goals and enhance quality of life.

A community visioning is a collaborative process designed to give people who live, work, and play in a place the opportunity to exchange ideas, values, and goals that articulate a shared vision of what they want their community to be like in the future.

AARP defines a livable community as one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing options and offers supportive and essential community features and services that allow residents of all ages and backgrounds to thrive. These include mixed-use zoning and multimodal transportation options that provide access to essential businesses, such as grocery stores as well as learning and job opportunities. Livable communities also include parks and public gathering spaces that provide physical and psychological health benefits to residents and strengthen communities. AARP’s Livability Index uses seven categorical principles to identify key elements to measure and clearly define livability. The seven categories are neighborhood, housing, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity.

2001 Belmont Vision Statement

Belmont is a desirable and welcoming community that retains a small-town atmosphere within a larger metropolitan area. Our town provides excellent educational opportunities and high-quality town services. We protect the beauty and character of our natural settings and historic buildings. Thriving business centers contribute economic stability while offering places for residents to dine, shop, and socialize. The town government responds to the concerns of the residents, practices sound fiscal management and plans for future generations. We make a commitment to preserving and enhancing our strengths as a community while respecting our differences as individuals.