Massachusetts Housing: Voters reject smaller lot rezoning

Massachusetts voters decided Friday to keep current zoning rules for single-family homes. The state’s electorate turned down Question 7 by a narrow margin. The Associated Press projected the measure would fail with 99% of the expected vote in.

The final tally showed 1,287,917 votes against the proposal and 1,255,595 in favor. This 32,322-vote difference settled the last of nine ballot questions. The result ends a push to allow homes on lots as small as 5,000 square feet.

The failed measure required lots to have at least 50 feet of street frontage and access to public water and sewer. It did not mandate specific home dimensions. Instead, it left size and style decisions to subsequent state regulatory processes and local zoning boards.

Supporters argued the change would create momentum for starter homes. They also cited the need to help seniors downsize. Opponents focused on the shift of power from local governments to the state. The vote preserves the status quo for construction rules on approximately 850,000 parcels.

A report from the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University estimated the proposal would generate roughly 750 new homes annually. The study predicted suburbs around Boston would see the biggest boost in home building. The report noted that cities and towns would lose some real authority over construction rules under the rejected plan.

Municipalities would still retain the ability to set criteria for setbacks, height, and bulk. The failed vote leaves local zoning boards with full control over lot size requirements. The 750-home annual estimate from Tufts University now serves as a measure of what the state did not approve.