The Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) posted their Compliance Guidelines for the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities on August 10, 2022, updated from the Draft Guidelines released in December 2021. DHCD has put together an FAQ that they have been updating regularly.

This new regulation, which is part of the Housing Choice Initiative enacted in an economic development bill passed in January 2021, requires MBTA communities including Dedham to have at least one zoning district in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets the other criteria in the statute including:

• Minimum gross density of 15 units per acre
• No more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station, if applicable
• No age restrictions
• Suitable for families with children

Failure to comply with these multifamily zoning requirements would make a community ineligible for funds from Housing Choice Grants, Local Capital Fund Projects, and MassWorks Infrastructure Program. DHCD may, in its discretion, take non-compliance into consideration when making other discretionary grant awards. The Town of Dedham received $1.7 million in MassWorks grant funding for the reconstruction of Dedham Square in 2010-2011. While Dedham does not currently qualify for the Housing Choice Initiative (3-5% growth in housing unit within the past five years, where the Town is at 1.6%), the Town would likely qualify in the coming years based on the future development pipeline.

The Planning Board selected Stantec as the consultant to analyze the town's current zoning map and to provide recommendations for how Dedham can comply with the new state guidelines. Based on Stantec's analysis, the Planning Board sponsored Article 14 at 2023 Spring Town Meeting, which created a Multi-Family Housing Overlay District (MFHOD) near the Dedham Corporate Center MBTA station.