1. Getting Units on the SHI
Fran StanleyFran Stanley
Housing CoordinatorHousing Coordinator
Town of GrotonTown of Groton

2. Groton,, Massachusetts

3. Affordable Housing Units

4. Almost 50% of Groton’s Inventory ofAlmost 50% of Groton’s Inventory of
Affordable Units was produced throughAffordable Units was produced through
Inclusionary Zoning rather thanInclusionary Zoning rather than
Comprehensive PermitsComprehensive Permits

5. Land Area:Land Area: 32.5 square miles32.5 square miles
Population:Population: 10,93710,937
Government:Government: Open Town MeetingOpen Town Meeting
Affordable Units:Affordable Units: 208 Units or 5.29%208 Units or 5.29%
Open Space:Open Space: 8889 acres or 41% land area8889 acres or 41% land area
Public Water:Public Water: 60%60%
Public Sewer:Public Sewer: 15%15%
Rivers:Rivers: Nashua & SquannacookNashua & Squannacook
ACEC:ACEC: Squannassit/PetapawagSquannassit/Petapawag
Groton’s Community Profile

6. Getting UnitsGetting Units Created by Local ZoningCreated by Local Zoning on the SHIon the SHI

7. What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name?
Before English colonists founded Groton Plantation inBefore English colonists founded Groton Plantation in
1655, the area was called Petapawag. Petapawag1655, the area was called Petapawag. Petapawag
translated as --translated as --
““swamps on a hill”, or justswamps on a hill”, or just
““swampy land”swampy land”
Developers seeking sites for large housingDevelopers seeking sites for large housing
developments do not find swampy land and certainly notdevelopments do not find swampy land and certainly not
‘swamps on a hill’ to be an appealing topographical‘swamps on a hill’ to be an appealing topographical
feature!feature!

8. 88% of Groton in an ACEC Zone
Groton contains both Natural Heritage Estimated and
Priority Habitat (NHESP) areas and Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC)
Less than 4% of the area of Massachusetts has been
designated as ACEC but approximately 88% of Groton is
so designated

9. Groton has a number of zoning provisions thatGroton has a number of zoning provisions that
encourage creation of affordable housingencourage creation of affordable housing
Adopted Zoning Provision Special Permit
Granting Authority
Required
Affordable
Threshold Bonus Units Units
Approved to
date
1982 Subsidized Elderly
Housing
Zoning Board of
Appeals
50% All No 4
1982 Planned Multifamily
Residential Development
Planning Board Optional 0 No 74
1990 Flexible Development Planning Board 15% 10 units Yes 26
2005 Accessory Apartments Zoning Board of
Appeals
Optional 0 No 0
2008 Town Center Overlay
District
Planning Board 15% 6 units Yes, with
TDR’s
3
Other - Site Plan Review Planning Board
(By-right
Optional 0 No 5

10. Flexible Development
Town permitting boards appreciate both the affordable housing
aspect and open space preservation components of flexible
development.
Site constraints have encouraged developers to utilize flexible
development.
Flexible development typically leads to projects more fitted to the
landscape and pleasing to the homebuyer than the conventional
zoning endpoint – i.e., fewer cookie cutter neighborhoods.

11. Getting on the SHI: takes the
cooperation of four players
Developer
(usually a novice to affordable
housing for Groton’s small local
zoning projects)
Affordable Household
(novice)
Municipality
(repeat player)
Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
(repeat player)

12. DHCD guidelines for local action units
The guidelines are designed to:
1.allow equality of opportunity
2.protect homebuyer interests, and
3.protect future affordability
Developers are creating the units and their
actions set the pace of the regulatory
review, marketing and sale of units

13. Challenge
Coordinate with developers to attend to the least remunerative portion ofwith developers to attend to the least remunerative portion of
their project – the affordable housing requirements -- in order facilitatetheir project – the affordable housing requirements -- in order facilitate
smooth rollout of affordable units that are counted on the SHIsmooth rollout of affordable units that are counted on the SHI
Sales and marketing delays for affordable units result in increased costsSales and marketing delays for affordable units result in increased costs
for developers.for developers.
Explain how an affordable sale differs from the sale of a market rate unit.Explain how an affordable sale differs from the sale of a market rate unit.
Provide sample housing documents.Provide sample housing documents.
Encourage attention to DHCD review points. Complete developer
applications are easier to review.
Best Outcome: Units that count on the SHI and a developer
who will consider affordable housing for the next project.

14. Town of Groton’s Method to Help
Affordable Units on to the SHI
Planning Board or ZBA Implementation:
• Include clear, concise conditions in the Special Permit
• Establish a phasing schedule based upon market-rate building
permits or occupancy permits
• Have flexibility with all parties while keeping affordable units on
track
Housing Coordinator role:role:
– Provides administrative support to the Affordable Housing Trust
and Housing Partnership
– Works with the Boards, developers, and the DHCD on legal
agreements including lottery, regulatory & monitoring
agreements
– Works with prospective buyers, renters, and others who may
experience a housing crisis.

15. My Favorite Petapawag: Petapawag Place is a 25 unitMy Favorite Petapawag: Petapawag Place is a 25 unit
subsidized housing development located at the foot of thesubsidized housing development located at the foot of the
Groton’s favorite drumlin -- Gibbet HillGroton’s favorite drumlin -- Gibbet Hill
Fran StanleyFran Stanley
Housing CoordinatorHousing Coordinator
Groton, MassachusettsGroton, Massachusetts
978.732.1913978.732.1913
fstanley@townofgroton.orgfstanley@townofgroton.org