Lexington Approves Scaling-Back MBTA Communities Act

In April 2023, Lexington's Town Meeting approved 12 new overlay districts encompassing 227 acres for multifamily housing, significantly exceeding the 50 acres mandated by the MBTA Communities Act. This proactive approach aimed to address the escalating housing crisis and counteract the trend of residents being priced out of the local market, where the median single-family home price had reached $1.7 million. By expanding the zoning areas, town officials and housing advocates sought to increase housing diversity and affordability, thereby fostering a more inclusive community.

Former Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, a Lexington resident, highlighted the town's leadership role during the Town Meeting, stating, "This is a chance for Lexington to lead, and isn't that what we want to do? Be out there early and show what's possible." This sentiment reflects the town's commitment to setting a precedent for proactive housing policy in the region.

Since Lexington's Town Meeting approved MBTA Communities Act zoning in April 2023, the Planning Board has received several development proposals. As of October 2024, eight proposals totaling 985 housing units, including 143 affordable units, had been submitted.

One notable proposal is from SGL Development, which plans to construct a 319-unit apartment complex on Militia Drive near Lexington Center. This development includes 47 affordable units and is designed to replace existing office buildings with two residential structures and a six-story parking garage.

However, in March 2025, a citizen petition led to the approval of Article 2, which reduced the designated multifamily housing acreage from 227 to approximately 90 acres. This adjustment was driven by concerns over potential strains on local services and infrastructure due to rapid development. The compromise allows for the continuation of ten projects already in progress, potentially adding around 1,100 new multifamily dwellings to the town.

Town Meeting approved Article 2, but the real question is whether the state-controlled zoning districts will receive approval from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and the Attorney General. Since any amendments to previously approved zoning districts require their approval, it will be interesting to see if they uphold the changes or reject the attempt to scale back areas previously designated for MBTA Communities Act compliance, shifting them away from by-right high-density multifamily zoning.

Lexington aimed to be a leader—now we’ll see how that plays out. The state’s decision on Article 2 will be a key indicator for the other 176 communities, including those that passed zoning amendments, those that rejected MBTA Communities Act zoning changes, and those that have yet to take action.

So much for those who claim the MBTA Communities Act is just zoning and that nothing will be built anytime soon. Lexington approved the zoning amendments, and they already have 10 projects in the pipeline, with 1,100 dwelling units planned.

If registered voters approve the MBTA Communities Act, developers will step in, purchase developed or undeveloped properties, demolish existing structures, and build high-density multifamily apartments by-right—with little to no input from local officials or residents. Be mindful of what you approve, because once it’s done, there’s no undoing it.

The purpose of these posts is to provide information so that taxpayers and registered voters are well-informed before voting at town meetings. There’s a lot of propaganda and misinformation being spread by state and local officials to sway the vote in favor of approval. The biggest misconception is that this will provide affordable housing and address the housing crisis. We don’t have a housing crisis, we have an affordability crisis, and the MBTA Communities Act will do little to solve that. It creates the illusion of action, while actually serving as a gift to developers, allowing them to reap massive profits.