Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker continues to call for passage of an initiative he says will help address the state’s housing shortage.
First proposed by Baker in 2017, the bill would allow local zoning changes to be made by a simple majority rather than the two-thirds vote current law demands.
The idea is to make it easier to build typically more affordable multi-family housing.
Housing advocates complain the bill doesn’t go far enough. Others, including Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno want an exemption for municipalities where more than 10 percent of the housing is deemed to be affordable.
" Cities such as Springfield has done more than its fair share when it comes to affordable housing," said Sarno.
Baker has set a goal to build 135,000 new housing units by 2025.
