By Adam Swift
Earlier this year, the town council failed to approve a planning board recommendation that would have brought Winthrop in compliance with the MBTA 3A Communities Act.
But the debate over 3A in the town looks to be far from over, according to several councilors.
At last week’s meeting, the council voted to support three pieces of legislation regarding 3A filed by Winthrop State Representative Jeff Turco.
In addition to the discussion on 3A revolving around the legislation, Town Manager Tony Marino’s report to the council stated that the town recently lost out in $1.2 million in state MVP (Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness) grants that would have assisted with design plans for flood mitigation projects at Morton/Banks Street and Fishermen’s Bend.
During the public speaking portion of last week’s council meeting, several residents asked the council to reconsider its vote on 3A compliance so that the town does not lose out on more potential grant money.
“3A is not going to go away whether you agree with it or disagree with it,” said Cassie Witthaus. She said the plan put forward by the planning board would have given the town credit for housing units it has already built in areas like Governor’s Park and Seal Harbor.
“We are an MBTA adjacent community,” Witthaus said. “That doesn’t mean that they are going to be building housing here. We decided, with the planning board and with the consultant, what was right for us.
“They listened to people’s concerns about transportation and the impacts that additional housing would have and said let’s give ourselves credit for the work we’ve already done.”
The councilors also discussed 3A and the loss of grants when taking up the support of the three bills filed by Turco.
One bill requests the full repeal of 3A, one requests that Winthrop be exempt from 3A because it is a Safe Harbor community under 40B housing laws, and the third requests that all communities under two square miles in size be exempt from 3A.
Council Vice President Hannah Belcher and Councilor John DaRos voted against supporting the full repeal legislation while DaRos voted against the two-square mile community exemption.
All councilors voted to send a letter of support for the Safe Harbor exemption legislation.
DaRos said he supported the Safe Harbor legislation because the town has done a good job creating affordable housing.
“I think it makes sense that, at the end of the day, 3A is about overall across the Commonwealth, trying to make housing more affordable,” said DaRos. “One of the ways to do that is to increase inventory. That isn’t the only way to do it; we’ve seen municipalities increase inventory and it hasn’t necessarily led to affordable housing.”
He said Turco’s bill regarding 40B shows that communities such as Winthrop have done a good job creating affordable housing and deserve an exemption from 3A.
Councilor-at-Large Max Tassinari said he was supporting all three bills filed by Turco, but said the bigger issue is that Turco needs the support of his colleagues in the legislature more than he needs it from the council.
“It would be nice to get an exemption for the towns less than two square miles or towns that are in the Safe Harbor for 40B,” said Tassinari. “I don’t see the repeal of 3A happening; I think just because Winthrop has been doing its job in providing more capacity for building in the town, it doesn’t mean those other 170 communities have. I think when it came down to paper compliance, the reason why we were getting the green light and all systems go on that specific plan was because we already put in the work and we already have 700 units coming that are not being built right now.”
Belcher said she was hesitant to talk more about 3A, but added that the debate is not over.
“Thank you, Rep. Turco for pushing on the state for what is right on this,” she said. “I did write in a letter in support of 2344, which supports the Safe Harbor. I think one of the main shortcomings of 3A as it is written is the lack of affordable housing mandates within the law, so I think this clears that up.
“I also think that a repeal would be fine, but this is not the way that I think is appropriate to do it, I think the petition initiative is a more appropriate way to repeal something like this.”
Councilor Pat Costigan has been a critic of 3A while he has been on the council and said he supported all three pieces of legislation filed by Turco. He added that the state should be giving Winthrop credit for the hundreds of housing units it has created and has in the pipeline.
“I think being exempt would be a win for Winthrop, and that is all I have to say,” said Councilor Rob DeMarco, who also voted against the 3A compliance plan put forward by the planning board earlier this year.
Councillor Joseph Aiello said he appreciated Turco filing the legislation and would support him, but added that it was likely a longshot for them to be successful.
“I hope he wins the fight, but it is another longshot,” Aiello said. “I worry that it is another diversion. But here at the council, we must accept that our no votes will result in people suffering, continued loss of state aid and fines and the situation you have put us in will affect everyone.”