Holden rejects second MBTA Communities proposal, faces legal action

"This was the second attempt to pass a [MBTA Communities Act] compliant zoning overlay and with the margin of loss I'd say it's pretty clear where Holden voters stand. They were well informed as to everything involved in this process through community outreach meetings, media, social media, and word of mouth for the last year and especially over the last six months, and they still rejected it."

"Article 2 would have created two multifamily overlay districts - one at 2077 Main Street and another at Newbury Drive - designed to meet the law's requirements. The MBTA Communities Act requires Holden to zone for at least 750 housing units across 50 acres, at a minimum density of 15 units per acre."

Holden residents voted down Article 2, a proposal to create multifamily overlay districts on Main Street and Newbury Drive to comply with the state's MBTA Communities Act. The measure failed 520 to 257, marking the town's second unsuccessful attempt at compliance. The proposal would have zoned for approximately 587 housing units across two sites to meet state requirements of 750 units across 50 acres at 15 units per acre minimum density. After missing the 2025 compliance deadline, Holden became one of 12 noncompliant communities, leading to a lawsuit by Attorney General Andrea Campbell against nine of those towns, including Holden.

Read at Boston.com