Note: This story is from Vol. 1 Issue 1 of the Carver Journal. Read the full issue here .
After over a year of deliberations, the town is set to propose a plan to comply with a controversial housing law that requires Carver to zone for multi-family housing by the end of this year.
The law, known as the MBTA Communities Act, was passed overwhelmingly by the state legislature in 2021, 143-4 in the state house and 40-0 in the state senate to address rising home and rent prices in the commonwealth.
Under the law, Carver is one of 177 towns required to create zoning for multi-family housing. The town is required to zone for 235 multifamily units suitable for families with children by the end of the year.
Carver is not required to build any housing or water and sewer infrastructure as part of the law.
According to the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities, this policy opens the door to easily-created walkable communities near public transit. Critics of the law, however, have argued that this policy could strain resources in smaller towns, like Carver, which may not have the resources to sustain multi-family housing developments.
In fact, there’s no commuter rail stop within town lines. Commuters have to drive miles to get to the nearest rail stops in Middleboro Kingston and Halifax.
Nonetheless, Carver is classified as an “adjacent small town” according to the law.
In early August, the Carver Planning Board identified five potential sites to zone for multi-family housing. On Aug. 26, the board voted 3-1 to propose 30-32 West Street as the location to rezone. The site is located near the center of town and is currently occupied by Ferreira’s Used Cars & Parts.
“The chances of a developer coming in and making something of that property, it’s very slim to none because of the contamination that will cost someone a fortune, ” said Mari Ellen Williams, Chair of the Planning Board, during the meeting.
Town Planner Thomas Bott quickly jumped in to clarify that the planning board does not know for certain if the proposed site is contaminated.
“I don’t want to disparage someone’s property,” Bott said. “But it certainly would look like a duck.”
Now, the site proposal set, the planning board will continue with a series of discussions before the plan is voted on by the public.
The proposal is set to go up to a public vote in a Special Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Carver Middle High School.
The last day to register to vote before the Special Town Meeting will be Friday, Sept. 28, according to the town clerk’s office. Prospective voters can register online on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.
More information about the MBTA bylaw and planning board process can be found on the front page of the town’s website, carverma.gov, by clicking on “MBTA Community Zoning Information.” A list of special town meeting articles can be found at carverjournal.com/stm-warrant-2025
Contact Nick Mossman at nick@carverjournal.com
