Build a Better Wellesley will hold a public Zoom meeting on Sunday, Sept. 28, 3pm-4pm, to discuss two state-wide housing initiatives. Register here to attend the meeting.

‘Legalize Starter Homes’

One initiative is put forth by a group called “Legalize Starter Homes,” which is working toward a 2026 ballot question the group says, if passed by voters, will tackle the state’s severe housing shortage. The idea is to set a minimum lot size at 5,000 square feet in residential zoning districts with 50 ft. of frontage and sewer and water access.

The summary reads, “The proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 sq. ft., has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services.

“The proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably regulate certain aspects of those single-family homes, including their height, distance from neighboring buildings, open space, parking requirements, and whether they can be rented out on a short-term basis. The proposed law would also allow the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to issue guidance and regulations to administer the proposed law.”

Questions Wellesley residents will have on this proposal likely will center around:

How effective would the law be in bringing affordable “starter” homes to Wellesley? A 5,000 sq. ft. lot can easily hold a 2,500 sq. ft. home, which would likely be priced here at $1.5+ million. Where’s the “starter” in that?

Will the law limit the square footage of starter homes to their true definition of 750 – 1,250 sq. ft.? Let’s say homes of that size could be built at $450 per sq. ft. Well, that would bring things down to a much more affordable $335k-$550k range. Housing in that range could be a fit for plenty of Wellesley’s downsizing seniors, or young families.
Will the law address what happens after these newly “legalized starter homes” go up? Could they just as quickly go the teardown route, erasing all gains? Or will the house need to remain at a certain square footage in perpetuity to ensure that it remains a “legal starter home”?

“Legalize Starter Homes” needs to gather 75,000 signatures by Nov. 19 to make it on the ballot for the 2026 State election. So get ready to see lots of volunteers with clipboards and pens at the ready at the RDF and other hot spots around town.

‘Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY)’

The other is legislation to be discussed during the Build a Better Wellesley meeting will focus on “Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY),” which would allow housing to be built on land owned by religious groups.

As summarized by YIGBY’s primary sponsor, State Sen. Brendan Crighton, the bill reads,

“This legislation aims to expand opportunities to build multifamily housing on lands owned by religious institutions. It prohibits municipalities from passing local ordinances that ban these sorts of projects, and defines certain parameters for these projects regarding minimum density, minimum height, and maximum setback. It also includes provisions regarding parking minimums, allowable local environmental regulations applying to these projects, local occupancy preferences, municipal housing standards, and reserved housing for employees of religious institutions. The bill also states that a municipality may opt to exempt property built on religiously-held lands from local property taxes.”

Questions Wellesley residents might have on this proposal likely will center around:

Density (30-50 units per acre)
Traffic
Affordable housing—as in not enough of it at only up to 25% of the units set aside as affordable. Will Wellesley residents get behind adding multifamily housing that could end up being 75% luxury units?
Structure height of up to four full stories
Parking—no off-street parking spaces would be required for multifamily housing located less than .5 miles from public transportation. Will Wellesley residents believe that housing located close to the MBTA will mean residents won’t need (or want) their own cars?