Massachusetts Advocacy Efforts Place Development on the Fast Track

Massachusetts is facing a housing deficit, and the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA) continues to work with legislative leaders to find solutions. On Sept. 9, Gov. Maura Healey released draft regulations that would speed up housing development in the state. HBRAMA played a key role in shaping the pro-housing proposal.

The draft regulations didn’t happen overnight, said Jeffrey A. Brem, P.E., a HBRAMA and Commission on Unlocking Housing Production member. In 2023, the governor passed the Affordable Homes Act, a comprehensive bill to increase housing production and invest in communities with input from HBRAMA members. The act paved the way for the development of the commission on which Brem serves.

Brem joined other industry leaders to provide recommendations on how state and local laws, regulations, and practices could be revised to increase the supply of housing. The commission released “Building for Tomorrow” earlier this year, which outlines more than 50 recommendations to boost housing development and lower costs.

“I didn’t want to create just another report that sits on a shelf,” he told commission members during a meeting. “I want us to act… and it must be bold.”

The bold theme stuck with the commission as the group held countless meetings with public and private stakeholders. The goal was to identify regulations the state could implement based on the recommendations from the “Building for Tomorrow” report. As a result, the governor announced draft regulations that would reduce environmental review times for housing projects across the state from one year or more to 30 days.

“This was a huge win,” said Brem. “The regulatory change could unleash dozens if not hundreds of projects bottled up by the current reporting requirements.”

The draft regulation would allow for projects that meet the qualifying housing criteria to move quickly through review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office by completing a simple Environmental Notification Form rather than submitting a detailed Environmental Impact Report. Public feedback, hearings and information sessions about the draft regulations will be held throughout October.

Brem emphasized that regulation changes are possible if home building industry members contribute their time and expertise and actively engage with lawmakers and key housing stakeholders.

“We have a real housing crisis, and we need to step up to the challenge and help fix it.”