Equitable Zoning by Design

A research project funded and directed through the Northeastern University Impact Engine Project. It seeks to propose a more flexible ‘third way’ for zoning in the region—one that enables as-of-right multifamily housing within contextual gently density frameworks.
Funded by a Northeastern University Impact Engine Grant
66 Pages
2025
Greater Boston  is experiencing a housing crisis. Over-restriction of housing development has caused a shortage and fueled price escalations. Moreover, zoning laws have increased the environmental impacts of growth, undermined the viability of public transportation, and led to poor design of properties and neighborhoods. 

Boston’s suburbs have been over-restricting the development of multifamily housing for decades. In 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopted the MBTA Communities Zoning Law to require cities and towns served by the MBTA to require transit-oriented multifamily housing on their zoning maps. Even with this mandate, local reform is politically challenging for many reasons. One major barrier to reform is that the vast majority of people do not understand what the zoning rules mean for the built environment, including the size and shape of future buildings and how they might look and feel on the street. This lack of understanding makes decision-makers hesitant to affirmatively support change.


Press & Events




Our report, Equitable Zoning by Design aims to help government officials and public stakeholders understand the physical and spatial implications of zoning regulations, especially in transit-oriented and walkable mixed-use hubs. In order to test potential approaches in real time, the project assisted Canton, Framingham, and Ipswich in their efforts to adopt zoning in compliance with the MBTA Communities zoning law. This assistance included the creation of visualizations of residential build-outs on specific sites within the areas being considered for rezoning, zoning maps and site specific 3D diagrams, and targeted spatial urban design recommendations. These graphics were also used by the participating planning departments for local public education about zoning reform and to inform local decisions about zoning alternatives. The project was meant to inform and inspire zoning reform in these communities and inspire the equitable and sensitive design of buildings, properties, and neighborhoods across the Commonwealth. 

The visual material and associated regulatory recommendations generated by the project seek to convince otherwise skeptical planning board members and engaged citizens that appropriately-scaled and -designed multifamily housing can result from new thoughtfully-conceived regulations. The project also generated recommendations and materials useful to zoning reformers across the region and country.

Discover how Equitable Zoning by Design is transforming the conversation around housing, transit, and sustainability in Boston’s suburbs. Our final report showcases innovative solutions, bold visualizations, and actionable strategies to drive equitable and impactful zoning reforms. Sam Naylor served as the lead designer for the project. 


Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards
Zoning Design Standards


Example Zoning District
Example Zoning District
Example Zoning District
Example Zoning District
Example Zoning District




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