GLOBE EDITORIAL
Smart growth is smart moneyAugust 15, 2007
THE SMART GROWTH program is a sensible, cost-effective
response to the shortage of housing in Massachusetts.
Approved by the Legislature in 2004, the program has been
responsible for the permitting of almost 1,700 units of
housing in special zoning districts. But it is running out of
money, and the Legislature needs to make a modest
financial commitment to keep its word to cities and towns.
The Legislature and then-Governor Romney wanted to
encourage communities to establish these districts, where
housing would be built more densely than zoning usually
allows. Towns were to be rewarded from a special fund,
first when they set up the districts and again when they
granted permits to build the housing. It hasn't cost much
so far, but the Legislature never replenished the original
$3.7 million, and the fund contains only $1.3 million.
Communities far and wide have sought to make use of the
program. Brockton, Chelsea, Grafton, Kingston, Lawrence,
Lynnfield, Natick, Plymouth, Amesbury, and North Andover
have all created smart-growth districts. Boston, Gardner,
Northampton, Belmont, and Pittsfield are considering doing
the same. Dartmouth, Lunenburg, Norwood, North Reading,
Lakeville, and Haverhill have gone a step further and
issued housing permits.
The fund is about $8 million short of what it will be
required by law to pay to these communities. If the
Legislature keeps starving it of money, other towns will
be discouraged from taking part, and the program will fail.
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