Massachusetts rejects single-family zoning change

A margin of 32,322 votes decided the fate of Massachusetts' housing policy on Friday afternoon. The Associated Press projected that voters rejected Ballot Question 7 after counting 99% of ballots. The measure failed to win approval in what was the closest race on a ballot that set a state record with nine questions.

The proposal sought to lower the minimum lot size for new single-family homes to 5,000 square feet. This change would have applied statewide, with the exception of Boston. The city maintains its own zoning laws and was not subject to the new requirement. The question also mandated that lots have at least 50 feet of street frontage and access to public sewer and water services.

Hillary Pizer, director of policy at the Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance, argued that the current rules stifle market entry. She noted that some towns require lots of 20,000, 40,000, or even 80,000 square feet for a single unit. Pizer said that such large minimums reduce the number of homes that can fit in a specific geographic area. She believed a yes vote would have given first-time buyers a better chance to enter the market.

Adam Chapdelaine, executive director and CEO of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, led the opposition. He argued that the language of the measure did not explicitly create affordable housing. Chapdelaine stated that the proposal was marketed as a solution to housing issues, but the text did not guarantee that the resulting homes would be affordable. He expressed concern that the measure did not adequately address the state's housing crisis.

Voters cast more than 2.5 million ballots for Question 7. The final tally showed 50.6% voting no and 49.4% voting yes. The result came nearly three days after the general election. The AP made its projection on Friday, marking the final undecided race of the day.