MILTON HOUSING

PRODUCTION PLAN


Karen Sunnarborg,
Consultant
With technical support
from William Clark, Town
Planner

MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 1
HOUSING GOALS
Meet local housing needs along the full range of
incomes, promoting social and economic diversity and
stability.
Leverage other public and private resources to the
greatest extent possible.
Insure that new housing creation is harmonious with the
existing community.
Strive to meet the 10% state standard for affordable
housing.
Provide a wide range of housing alternatives to meet
diverse housing needs.
Promote smart growth development.
Preserve the existing affordable housing stock including
its diversity of prices, building types and lot sizes.


MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 2
WHAT IS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING?
Different programs have different criteria/for
example rental versus ownership.
40B definition
Subsidized development
25% of units restricted to households at or below
80% of AMI ($61,000 for family of 3)
Regulatory agreement monitored
Affirmative marketing but local preference for 70%
of affordable units
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 3
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
INVENTORY (SHI)
Of Miltons 9,641 year-round, housing units, 426
units or 4.44% are considered affordable.
Milton needs at least 538 more affordable units
converted or produced to meet the state 10% target
based on existing stock.
Based on buildout projections, this total figure
increases to more than 600 affordable units, based
on current zoning, requiring of the projected new
units be affordable.
Can count 100% of all units in SHI for 40B rental
developments, 25% for 40B homeownership
projects.


MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 4
WHAT IS HOUSING
PRODUCTION?
State regulations under Chapter 40B offer
communities greater local control over affordable
housing development.
First step is getting Housing Plan approval from the
state. Plan must include annual affordable housing
production goals of 0.50% of the communitys year-
round housing stock or 48 units for Milton.
For each one-year or two-year goal met, the Town
can apply for certification from the state that enables
the ZBA to deny inappropriate Chapter 40B
developments without the developers ability to
appeal.
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 5
HOUSING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT
Slowing population growth.
Proportionately more children, fewer young adults and
more seniors.
More families.
Growing income disparities with increases in median
household income ($104,357) and poverty.
Median household income of owners and renters was
$119,420 and $27,853, respectively.
Median income of renters decreased from $41,071 in
1999.
Almost 1/5 of all households were earning less than
$35,000 while more than half were earning above
$100,000.
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 6
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 7
Population Growth, 1920 to 2010
9,382
16,434
18,708
22,395
26,375
27,190
25,860 25,725
26,062
27,003
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

R
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 8
Changes in Age Distribution: 1990 to 2010
1,745
4,875
1,910
3,450
4,155
2,573
2,524
4,493
1,640
5,855
1,301
2,533
4,212
4,155
2,132
4,234
1,544
6,222
1,779
1,955
3,422
4,238
3,686
4,157
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000
0 to 4
5 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 +
Number of Residents
2010
Census
2000
Census
1990
Census
HOUSING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT
(CONTINUED)
The borrowing power of the average household,
based on the towns median income of $104,357
is about $475,000.
Median house price of $520,099 requires an
income of about $110,000.
The affordability gap is therefore $45,000, the
difference between the median priced home and
what a household earning at median income can
afford. The addition of down payment and closing
costs would increase this gap to at least $155,000.
The gap increases to $212,000 for those earning
80% AMI.

MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 9
HOUSING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT
(CONTINUED)
There are very few if any homes on the market for
less than $300,000.
About 27% of Milton households were spending
too much on their housing.
Lowest rental listings for apartments in older
homes ranged from $1,475 to $1,650.
Rentals for houses ranged from $1,795 to $3,200
and condos ranged from $2,700 to $2,950.
A $1,650 apartment requires an income of about
$72,800 plus up-front cash of almost $5,000.



MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 10
HOUSING STRATEGIES
PLANNING AND
REGULATORY REFORM
Promote affordable housing through cluster zoning
Explore adoption of 40R/40S
Promote infill development on noncomplying lots
Reduce parking requirements under specific
circumstances
Streamline the permit approval process/Affordable
Housing Guidelines
Amend accessory apartment bylaw
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 11
HOUSING STRATEGIES
BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY
Conduct an educational campaign
Capitalize the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Hire an Assistant Planner/in process
Approve CPA

MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 12
HOUSING STRATEGIES
HOUSING PRODUCTION
Continue to promote mixed-use and transit-
oriented development
Continue to support adaptive reuse
Support scattered-site, infill housing
Make Town-owned property available for
affordable housing
MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 13
HOUSING STRATEGIES
HOUSING
PRESERVATION
Maintain affordability of SHI
Help qualifying residents access housing
assistance

MILTON HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 14