by Ted Tye, Managing Partner, National Development

1. INNOVATIVE ZONING STRATEGIES
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
Ted Tye, Managing Partner
National Development
December 3, 2010

2. Presentation
• Two case studies
1. Station Landing, Medford
2. Woodland Station, Newton
• One with re-zoning, one with 40B zoning
• What we learned and how to make it
happen

3. Station Landing, Medford
Use of Comprehensive Rezoning

4. The Case for Transit Oriented Development

5. • Mixed Use Zone
• Suburban Office Park
• 1.2 million s.f. Office and Retail
CCF Master Plan 1988-2002

6. Why Transit Oriented Development?
• 140,000 vehicle trips at site perimeter
• Demographics
• River, park system and views
• Parking
• Proximity and quality of transit

8. Existing Zoning Didn’t Work
• FAR/density
• Setbacks
• Distance between buildings
• Open Space
• Landscaping
• Building height
• Parking ratios

9. How We Changed It
• Re-branded and created a new vision
• Based new master plan on transit
connection
• Used animation to help city understand
vision
• Educated public officials

11. Results:
• Rezoned by City Council in about 90 days
• 600 residential units, 25 restaurants and
stores, office, fitness center
• Rebuilt Skywalk to MBTA to create better
connection
• Transit is the #1 reason for success of
live-work-play community

14. Woodland Station, Newton
Use of 40B

16. Why Transit Oriented Development?
• Existing parking lot
• Underutilized MBTA asset
• Great community
• Close to residential neighbors, Newton-
Wellesley Hospital
• Good proximity and quality of transit

17. Existing Zoning Didn’t Work
• Public Use zone not suited to development
• Concern about rezoning to an existing
zoning district not appropriate for density
• 40B provided opportunity to meet
affordable housing goals AND not change
local zoning in a way that would impact
other districts

18. How We Changed It
• Reduced or eliminated setbacks
• Reduced (although not enough!) parking
ratio
• Increased height
• Utilized urban landscape/open space
concepts
• Also utilized animation to help explain
changes

20. Results:
• Prompt process within 40B timeline
• Unanimous support of residential abutters
• City support for affordable housing and
transit access (new station and parking)
• Strong occupancy
• Transit is the #1 reason for success

21. What Our Residents Say
• 60% say transit is most important reason for
housing choice
• 67% use the MBTA to commute on a daily basis
• Most who don’t use transit can’t get to work by
T, need car at work and/or have free parking
• Parking utilization is 1.1/unit at Station Landing,
1.5/unit at Woodland Station
• 62% say they would have an additional car if T
access not available

22. Chronicle
How It All Comes Together

24. INNOVATIVE ZONING TRATEGIES
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
Ted Tye, Managing Partner
National Development
December 3, 2010