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Needham Housing Plan 2021
Needham Housing Plan
The Town of Needham has not had an approved Housing Plan in place since 2007, although it has made considerable progress in producing affordable housing since then, adding 894 new affordable units and surpassing the state affordability goal of 10%. Despite reaching this threshold, the Town recognizes that significant unmet housing needs remain in the community, particularly in the context of unprecedented housing prices and the pandemic. Consequently, the Town has determined that it should revisit its housing agenda by obtaining updated documentation on the local housing dynamic and preparing a Housing Plan to strategically address identified priority housing needs.
Working Group
The Planning Board has appointed a Working Group comprised of representatives from appropriate boards and committees to work with staff from the Planning and Community Development Department in overseeing community outreach and preparing the document.
Name | Board/Committee Representing |
Emily Cooper | Citizen At Large |
Ed Cosgrove | Board of Health |
Natasha Espada | Planning Board |
Carol Fachetti | Finance |
Helen Gregory | Council On Aging |
Heidi Frail | Select Board |
Jeanne McKnight | Planning Board |
Oscar Mertz | Citizen At Large |
Marcus Nelson | Select Board |
Mike O’Brien | School Committee |
Ed Scheideler | Housing Authority |
Rhonda Spector | Citizen At Large |
Meetings of the working group are open to the public and will be held on Zoom (at least to begin, they could move to in-person). Agendas and minutes will be posted on the website.
To receive updates on Housing Plan Working Group meetings subscribe to the Housing Plan Working Group Notify Me . You may also email planning@needhamma.gov using the subject line “Housing Plan Working Group".
On March 24, 2022, the Housing Plan Working Group held a Community Forum. You may view it here.
Prioritized List of Action Items developed by the breakout group participants at the Community Housing Forum
Presentation at the Public Education and Listening Forum held on January 27, 2022
Needham Charter and General Bylaws
Past Housing Reports for Needham
Housing and Zoning Analysis, 2021
Demographic, Economic and Housing Profiles, 2019
Needham Affordable Housing Plan, 2007
An Assessment of Needham Housing Authority Residents: Assets and Opportunities, Jan, 2020
Needham Public Schools Demographic Study, 2018
West Metro HOME Consortium Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2021
Needham LWV Affordable-Housing Basics Oct 2021
Needham Inclusionary Zoning Analysis from the LWV Forum (2021)
Needham Housing Authority Facilities Master Plan 2019
Emergency Rental Assistance Program Final Report
Other Housing Reports and Information
The State of Zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units, Pioneer Institute, 2018
Draft MBTA Housing Guidelines Jan 2022
Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association DHCD/MBTA Multi Family Zoning Guidelines
Link to webinar: Overview of Draft Zoning Rules for MBTA Communities Webinar