Inclusionary Zoning and 40B Safe Harbor

At a glance

What: Article 14, an inclusionary zoning bylaw requiring affordable units in developments of 10 or more units.
Why: Auburn is at 9.92% affordable housing and needs seven units to reach the 10% safe harbor from Chapter 40B projects, which override local zoning.
Where it stands: Planning Board favorable (earlier materials); vote at the Special Town Meeting - October 27, 2026 (zoning, likely two-thirds; inferred).

A member suggested the term "local initiative unit" may be a typo for "local action unit", wanted ownership favored over rental, and questioned the preference for town employees; Eric Chilton, chair of the zoning bylaw review committee, said the employee preference was meant as a community benefit.
Paul Dell'Aquila wants a cushion above 10%.

About 8 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-19 - Pre-Town Meeting	8

2026-10-19 - Pre-Town Meeting - Article 14 explained by Dell'Aquila; comments on wording and lottery preferences.
2026-10-21 - Page created.
2026-09-28 - 2026-09-28 - Select Board: Economic Development Director Paul Dell'Aquila said the bylaw grew out of the Town's 2024 Housing Production Plan and work with the Zoning Bylaw Committee and CMRPC, and that Auburn's Subsidized Housing Inventory was about 9.92%. The Planning Board recommended the article; Kirrane moved and Rufli seconded a recommendation to approve it, and the motion passed 4-0.
2026-09-23 - 2026-09-23 - Finance Committee: Finance Committee deferred Article 14 to the petitioner; the town is at 9.92% affordable housing.
2026-09-21 - 2026-09-21 - Economic Development Committee: Dell'Aquila reported the Planning Board endorsed the bylaw (15% affordable in developments over 10 units); the town is at 9.92% and roughly eight units short of the 10% safe harbor.
2026-08-20 - Economic Development Committee - Director noted the Planning Board had already endorsed the bylaw ahead of town meeting (from auto-captions).