How does the law affect Holden?

Holden is defined as an “adjacent community” because the town is adjacent to Worcester, which has a commuter rail station.

The Law requires that Holden designate/develop a zoning area that allows for zoning for 750 multi-family housing units. Zoning is not a housing production mandate. The Law does not stipulate the actual building of housing, but just allows the possibility of multi-family housing through the zoning ordinance.

The 2019 Town of Holden Master Plan projects significant developable land in Holden; “there are an estimated 4,269 potentially developable acres in residentially zoned areas of Holden,” even though “a significant portion is under some form of partial constraint.” (Chapter 4, p. 47) The Plan further states that “a substantial amount of land remains available to meet future demand.” (Chapter 4, p. 47)

50 acres for the 3A zoning district is less than 1% of all land in Holden.