The Massachusetts Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning Initiative, also known as Question 2, appeared on the November 2, 2010 ballot in the state of Massachusetts as an initiative. Question 2 was rejected by the Massachusetts voters by 1,254,759 "No" votes to 900,405 "Yes" votes.[1] The measure had been sponsored by Better Not Bigger, a local advocacy group in the state.[2][3][4]
Question 2
Massachusetts Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning Initiative
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
900,405
41.78%
No
1,254,759
58.22%
Valid votes
2,155,164
100.00%
Invalid or blank votes
0
0.00%
Total votes
2,155,164
100.00%
County results
Municipality results
Precinct results
No
90–100%
80–90%
70–80%
60–70%
50–60%
Yes
70–80%
60–70%
50–60%
Other
Tie
No votes
The proposed measure would have repealed a state law, the Comprehensive Permit Act (MGL ch. 40B), that allows an organization that is proposing to build government-subsidized housing that includes "low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals." According to the official summary of the measure, the repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011. According to Chemaly, "It's not based on helping poor people. It's all about how can we sell as many units as possible and for them to still be federally and legally (dubbed) affordable" [5]
The initiative was reviewed by the Massachusetts Legislature. The Massachusetts Legislature did not approve of the initiative by the May 4, 2010 deadline, according to the Massachusetts Elections Division, leaving petition organizers to obtain additional signatures from about 1/2 of 1% of voters who voted in the last governor election and submit them before or on July 7, 2010. According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, that number amounted to 11,099 signatures. The measure submitted enough signatures to be placed on the ballot.[5][7]
This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals (ZBA), instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing. The repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011, but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit ...
A YES VOTE would repeal the state law allowing the issuance of a single comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low- or moderate-income units.
A NO VOTE would make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit.
The following contributions have been made in opposition to the measure:[10]
Contributor
Amount
Massachusetts Association of Realtors
$235,000.00
Citizens Housing and Planning Association
$100,000.00
Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
$61,000
National Apartment Association
$50,000
Greater Boston Real Estate Board
$47,250
Home Builders Association of Massachusetts
$25,000
Argumentsedit
repealing the affordable housing law would immediately halt the creation of housing that is affordable to seniors and working families in many communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
^Wicked Local, "Massachusetts group: Use of 40B on the decline", March 24, 2010
^Massachusetts Secretary of State, "Elections: Initiative Petition for Law"
^The Salem News, "Election overview: What's on the ballot statewide", August 17, 2010
^Local News Telegram, "Mayor against ballot question on housing", September 7, 2010
^Massachusetts.gov, "OCPF Searchable Campaign Finance Database", Retrieved October 25, 2010 October 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
2010, massachusetts, question, massachusetts, comprehensive, permits, regional, planning, initiative, also, known, question, appeared, november, 2010, ballot, state, massachusetts, initiative, question, rejected, massachusetts, voters, votes, votes, measure, b. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning Initiative also known as Question 2 appeared on the November 2 2010 ballot in the state of Massachusetts as an initiative Question 2 was rejected by the Massachusetts voters by 1 254 759 No votes to 900 405 Yes votes 1 The measure had been sponsored by Better Not Bigger a local advocacy group in the state 2 3 4 Question 2Massachusetts Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning InitiativeResultsChoice Votes Yes 900 405 41 78 No 1 254 759 58 22 Valid votes 2 155 164 100 00 Invalid or blank votes 0 0 00 Total votes 2 155 164 100 00 County resultsMunicipality resultsPrecinct resultsNo 90 100 80 90 70 80 60 70 50 60 Yes 70 80 60 70 50 60 Other Tie No votes The proposed measure would have repealed a state law the Comprehensive Permit Act MGL ch 40B that allows an organization that is proposing to build government subsidized housing that includes low or moderate income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town s zoning board of appeals According to the official summary of the measure the repeal would take effect on January 1 2011 According to Chemaly It s not based on helping poor people It s all about how can we sell as many units as possible and for them to still be federally and legally dubbed affordable 5 Details of Chapter 40B include 6 It became a law in 1969 Allows developers to avoid local zoning limits if they agree to reserve some of their projects for moderate income residents About 25 percent of the units must be set aside for moderate income residents to meet this requirement Local areas can reject projects if 10 percent or more of their housing stock is deemed affordable If local towns or cities are making progress toward said 10 percent mark they can still reject projects Contents 1 Legislative history 2 Text of measure 2 1 Summary 3 Support 3 1 Supporters 3 2 Arguments 4 Opposition 4 1 Opponents 4 2 Financing 4 3 Arguments 5 ReferencesLegislative history editThe initiative was reviewed by the Massachusetts Legislature The Massachusetts Legislature did not approve of the initiative by the May 4 2010 deadline according to the Massachusetts Elections Division leaving petition organizers to obtain additional signatures from about 1 2 of 1 of voters who voted in the last governor election and submit them before or on July 7 2010 According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State s office that number amounted to 11 099 signatures The measure submitted enough signatures to be placed on the ballot 5 7 Text of measure editSummary edit The summary of the measure reads 8 This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government subsidized housing that includes low or moderate income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town s zoning board of appeals ZBA instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing The repeal would take effect on January 1 2011 but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit A YES VOTE would repeal the state law allowing the issuance of a single comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low or moderate income units A NO VOTE would make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit Support editSupporters edit Affordable Housing Now Yes on 2 is the main campaign for the measure Bigger Not Better 4 Arguments edit Massachusetts has become the 3rd most expensive state in the country Chapter 40B has been in place for more than 40 years and is directly responsible for our lack of affordability Opposition editOpponents edit The Campaign to Protect the Affordable Housing Law Worcester Mayor Joseph C O Brien 9 Financing edit The following contributions have been made in opposition to the measure 10 Contributor Amount Massachusetts Association of Realtors 235 000 00 Citizens Housing and Planning Association 100 000 00 Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations 61 000 National Apartment Association 50 000 Greater Boston Real Estate Board 47 250 Home Builders Association of Massachusetts 25 000 Arguments edit repealing the affordable housing law would immediately halt the creation of housing that is affordable to seniors and working families in many communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts References edit Massachusetts Secretary of State The Daily News Tribune Ballot initiative effort targets 40B repeal February 17 2010 permanent dead link Wicked Local Massachusetts ballot questions announced by secretary of state July 15 2010 a b Concord Patch Better Not Bigger Challenges Chapter 40B August 12 2010 a b Current Petitions Filed Wicked Local Massachusetts group Use of 40B on the decline March 24 2010 Massachusetts Secretary of State Elections Initiative Petition for Law The Salem News Election overview What s on the ballot statewide August 17 2010 Local News Telegram Mayor against ballot question on housing September 7 2010 Massachusetts gov OCPF Searchable Campaign Finance Database Retrieved October 25 2010 Archived October 31 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2010 Massachusetts Question 2 amp oldid 1216554285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
