Volunteers sought for Housing Production Plan

Weston is looking for two people to join its Housing Production Plan Steering Committee.

The town created the committee to update its Housing Production Plan, which sets a strategy to address 40B requirements with consideration given to the specific needs of Weston. Town Manager Leon Gaumond said the town is still looking for members to join the group.

“We want people who have an interest or background in housing and real estate,” he said. “Knowing the town is helpful, and knowing the business is also valuable. Anyone with a passion for affordable housing is appreciated as well.”

The new at-large members will serve alongside representatives from the Affordable Housing Trust, the Council on Aging and the Planning Board. At the Special Town Meeting in October, residents voted to appropriate $75,000 to update the town’s Housing Production Plan.

Massachusetts recommends creating a plan because it is a proactive strategy to create more affordable housing under the affordable housing statute Chapter 40B. Under the statute, if less than 10% of a town’s housing stock is designated as affordable, developers of projects falling under 40B are able to bypass some town zoning restrictions. Out of Weston’s current housing stock, 4.2% qualifies as moderate- or low-income housing, according to the Regional Housing Services Office. The plan will help the town envision how it wants to address affordable housing needs. It is not a construction plan.

“It is a tool many communities have used to manage the onslaught of 40B projects,” Gaumond said.

The committee will meet to discuss concerns and opportunities in the town before putting out a request for proposals to update the plan. The committee will select the company that will update the plan. Once updated, it will go to the state for approval.

The current state-approved plan lists diversifying housing options and ensuring that housing options are compatible with Weston’s characteristics among its goals.

Weston first implemented a plan in 2015. The last update, which was done in 2021, will expire in September 2026.

“What it’s going to do is look at what we’re currently doing for housing, especially affordable housing,” Gaumond said. “What do we as a community think our needs are, and develop avenues we can use to increase the number of affordable housing units.”

The town asks interested residents to submit a volunteer application online or submit a letter of interest with background information to the Select Board.