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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.
Natasha Espada Planning Board, Co-Chair
Jeanne McKnight Planning Board, Co-Chair
Emily Cooper Citizen At Large
Ed Cosgrove Board of Health
Carol Fachetti Finance Committee
Heidi Frail Select Board
Helen Gregory Council on Aging
Oscar Mertz Citizen At Large
Marcus Nelson Select Board
Michael 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 (HPWG) 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 November 16, 2022, the Housing Plan Working Group will present the draft plan to the community. (Draft plans can be found on this website below). The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom ID: 811 9113 9515 and in Powers Hall, Town Hall.
On March 24, 2022, the Housing Plan Working Group held a Community Forum. You may view it here.
All meetings have been conducted over Zoom and are available to view on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/TownofNeedhamMA/playlists
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
Housing Authority Presentation to the HPWG on June 29, 2022
DRAFT Housing Plan, revised March 17, 2022
DRAFT Housing Plan, revised April 22, 2022
DRAFT Housing Plan, revised September 22, 2022
DRAFT Housing Plan, revised October 24, 2022
DRAFT Housing Plan, revised November 2, 2022
Past Housing Reports for Needham, as well as other relevant Needham documents
Needham Charter and General Bylaws
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