At the Board of Selectmen meeting last night my colleagues agreed with my suggestion initiated last week at Representative Denise Garlick’s event, that the town hold an informational meeting to discuss Massachusetts General Laws c. 40B, and we settled on Tuesday February 28 as the date to hold that meeting.
Details will follow as to the location (hopefully the Medfield High School auditorium) and other arrangements, as they are made.
Town counsel cautioned in remarks last night that legally there is just not much town’s can do when a developer files to permit a 40B. There can be some discussions/negotiations between the town and developer around the densities and size and types of units.
Medfield02052's Blog 
An article in the Needham Times Feb 9, 2012, seems to have an alternative to the discouraging answers that have been provided so far. Please read it and perhaps we should talk to Planning Board Member and counsel Jeanne McKnight. Their approach to developing a ‘production plan’ is encouraging. Also, if the MSH development is going to include some affordable housing and since that development has been in the planning stage for quite a few years, then it seems that the MSH development would have precedence in making Medfield compliant with 40B.
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Carolyn,
I just read the article you cited, and it turned out that I had already asked town counsel, Mark Cerel, about that same issue and his reply follows:
2/08/2012 12:32PM
Re: 40B question
“Mark Cerel”
“Osler L. Peterson” “Michael Sullivan” “Kristine Trierweiler” ===========================================================
The plan itself doesn’t afford protection; Town needs to implement the
plan which involves creating a certain minimum percentage of affordable
housing each year, a VERY substantial undertaking.
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I definitely think it is worth undertaking so we can preserve our town’s character and charm. Affordable housing needs to be available in every town, but this high density proposal will devalue already crumbling housing prices and increase the taxes without having the appropriate offset in the tax base.
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