Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 10, 2021 LANDMARK | FROM PAGE 1 where new, multi-unit residential developers must include a mandated percentage of affordGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Gary Christenson Mayor developers to build affordable housing units as a part of new construction. Mayor Gary Christenson had made adoption of inclusionary zoning a priority in collaboration with the City Council. In adopting the policy, Malden joins many other surrounding communities, including Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Medford, Wakefield, Winchester, Woburn, Melrose, Saugus, Everett, Quincy and Chelsea and dozens of other Massachusetts cities and towns that have all adopted inclusionary zoning, leveraging the private sector housing market to create new affordable units for low-income residents. Much of the work leading up www.eight10barandgrille.com We Have Reopened for Dine-In and Outside Seating every day beginning at 4 PM WE'RE OPEN! 8 Norwood Street, Everett (617) 387-9810 STAY SAFE! to the ordinance was conducted by the Inclusionary Zoning Advisory Group, which compiled a feasibility study under the direction of the former Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA). Members of the Advisory Group included Councilors-at-Large Craig Spadafora and Stephen Winslow, Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise, City Planner Michelle Romero, former MRA Executive Director Deborah Burke, former MRA Senior Planner Evan Spetrini and Malden Affordable Housing Trust Fund Trustee Brian Slater. The Malden City Council’s Ordinance Committee presented the ordinance for review at a Craig Spadafora Councillor-at-Large joint meeting of the committee and the Planning Board, and after a few minor revisions the following stipulations were included in the new ordinance: • If a residential developer is proposing a project of eight or more units, then 15 percent have to be available for affordable housing rents or purchase price. • The rents or purchase prices would be determined by 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) limits and, for ownership, 80 percent of AMI. • A density bonus would be one additional market-rate unit per required affordable housing unit; a parking requirement would be one space required per affordable unit; and there would be a $300,000 per required unit “fee-in-lieu” of the unit paid to the Affordable Housing Fund Trust by the developer. • As part of the ordinance, a review of the efficacy and suitability of the ordinance would be conducted every five years by the City of Malden in cooperation with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. A housing market assessment and financial feasibility analysis would be undertaken “to determine the suitability and performance of the provisions of this ordinance for potential revision and improvement not less than every five years from the date of enactment of this ordinance. Upon Stephen Winslow Councillor-at-Large completing its assessment the City of Malden shall recommend to the City Council any amendments to this ordinance deemed necessary to improve the means of providing Affordable Housing Units in the city.” Councillor Spadafora said he and his colleagues were proud of the collaborative effort that led to the enrollment of the ordinance Tuesday night. “It was an outstanding team effort between the City Council, the Mayor’s Office, the Planning Board, the Affordable Housing Trust and the MRA,” Spadafora said. “This ordinance will support and assist a lot of residents moving forward.” Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley also had praise for those involved in the efforts to pass and enroll the ordinance. “It was a lot of effort by a lot of people for this ordinance, which is much-needed by our community,” Councillor O’Malley said. “It has been a long road and it is something Malden has needed for some time. Just imagine if we had this in place 10 years ago, how many residents it could have helped.” “The process was intricate and involved, but it was well worth it. We have an ordinance that will be valuable and supportive of our community for years to come,” said Councillor-at-Large Debbie DeMaria, who seconded the motion to enroll the ordinance. Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com able housing units. The motion passed unanimously and is now enrolled. Inclusionary zoning is a locally controlled policy that requires
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