This week the Baker administration announced new proposed legislation that may lead to the creation of up to 135,000 new housing units in the Commonwealth. This proposal includes a combination of grants and incentives for municipalities to encourage smart growth through zoning changes that have hindered housing development in the past. Over the last several years, many towns have adopted exclusionary zoning (such as 2 acre minimum lot size requirements) that virtually prohibits reasonable density for residential development. Housing costs have skyrocketed over the last several years, namely due to zoning and building code changes. We hope that this bill will be well received by the legislature, and provide opportunities for housing development at all levels. On Cape Cod, sensible housing development has reached a critical point and all sectors of the economy are scrambling to find reasonably priced housing to sustain a year round workforce. Incentives for development around village centers, and reasonable zoning that includes things like accessory apartments are key to attracting a viable workforce to the Cape.

For more information on this proposed housing plan, click here!

If you are interested to find out what current housing costs are on Cape Cod, click here to download our Construction Cost Guide