Littleton Planning Board Opens MBTA Zoning Hearing, Advances 150-Unit Foster Street District

LITTLETON -- October 12, 2023, Littleton's Planning Board opened the first of two public hearings on an MBTA Communities zoning bylaw that must pass a November 1 Town Meeting to protect the town's access to an estimated $15 million to $20 million in state grants. The proposed amendment would create a new Littleton Station MBTA Communities Multi-Family District adjacent to the Foster Street commuter rail station, zoning roughly 10.75 acres for up to 150 units, while updating the King Street Common district to count 600 units toward the state's 750-unit minimum. Town Planner Marin Houston warned that the state has already expanded the list of withheld grants to 13 programs for noncomplying communities and that the Attorney General has signaled she will litigate against towns that refuse. Select Board member Mark Rombacher urged delay, arguing the December 31, 2025, deadline gave the town time and that legislators might modify the requirement, but MBTA Communities consultant Emily Annis of Annis and Associates said she could not envision Littleton receiving a special exemption given its commuter rail station. The board separately voted unanimously to adopt the town's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and continued the 555 Newtown Road open space subdivision to October 26, scheduling a site walk for October 21 to address abutter concerns about grading and screening.