2010 Massachusetts Question 2

none Question 2 Massachusetts Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning Initiative 900405 1254759 2155164 300px County results 300px Municipality results 300px Precinct results 1 No #32320C 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #5D5D2D 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #BCBC83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Yes #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Other #EBEEED Tie 1px #AAAAAA solid #808080 No votes 1px #AAAAAA solid 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.Massachusetts Secretary of State The measure had been sponsored by Better Not Bigger, a local advocacy group in the state.The Daily News Tribune, "Ballot initiative effort targets 40B repeal", February 17, 2010January 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Wicked Local, "Massachusetts ballot questions announced by secretary of state", July 15, 2010 Concord Patch, "Better Not Bigger Challenges Chapter 40B", August 12, 2010 The proposed measure would have repealed a state law, the Comprehensive Permit Act (MGL ch. 40B), that allows an organization that is proposing to build government-subsidized housing that includes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" Current Petitions Filed Details of Chapter 40B include:Wicked Local, "Massachusetts group: Use of 40B on the decline", March 24, 2010 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. Legislative history 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.Massachusetts Secretary of State, "Elections: Initiative Petition for Law" Text of measure Summary The summary of the measure reads:The Salem News, "Election overview: What's on the ballot statewide", August 17, 2010 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 Supporters Affordable Housing Now-Yes on 2 is the main campaign for the measure. Bigger Not Better Arguments 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 Opponents The Campaign to Protect the Affordable Housing Law. Worcester Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien.Local News Telegram, "Mayor against ballot question on housing", September 7, 2010 Financing The following contributions have been made in opposition to the measure:Massachusetts.gov, "OCPF Searchable Campaign Finance Database", Retrieved October 25, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101031063117/http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/SearchReportResults.aspx?cpfId=95358 October 31, 2010 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 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 30em Category:2010 Massachusetts ballot measures Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning Initiative Category:Initiatives in the United States