Bill > H4140

This bill aims to speed up the construction of multi-family housing and promote cluster development by requiring cities and towns to establish zoning districts where multi-family housing is allowed "as of right," meaning without needing special permits or waivers. These districts must be in "eligible locations" such as areas near transit, town centers, or other suitable spots with good infrastructure, and must accommodate a reasonable share of regional housing needs with specific minimum densities, varying for rural towns and other areas. The bill also mandates that zoning ordinances allow for "open space residential developments," a type of development where buildings are clustered together on a portion of the land, leaving the rest as open space, and defines this term to include requirements for conveying or preserving the open land. Furthermore, it introduces provisions for "dense cluster development," which involves a higher density of housing with a significant percentage of affordable units, and establishes that municipalities meeting these housing development requirements will receive smart growth school cost reimbursement from the state.