Chelsea Sets 70% Local Preference for New Housing Lottery
City council approved a measure prioritizing local residents in inclusionary housing allocations while maintaining compliance with state fair housing standards.
By Andrew Yang ·
The Chelsea City Council voted unanimously last week to prioritize local residents in the allocation of affordable housing units.
The resolution directs the city manager and the Chelsea Housing Authority to reserve 70% of spots in the proposed centralized lottery for eligible Chelsea residents. This percentage represents the maximum share permitted by current state and federal laws. The remaining 30% of units will be available to non-residents to satisfy fair housing safeguards.
Councilor-at-Large Kelly Garcia introduced the motion as part of her effort to balance economic development with housing access for working-class families. She stated that the goal is to keep existing community members within city limits. "Many of us in the community have shared how important it is to keep the fabric of the city, and by doing so, it is prioritizing our Chelsea families to stay in the city of Chelsea," Garcia said.
City Manager Fidel Maltez confirmed that the new preference aligns with the recently established centralized waiting list for all inclusionary zoning units. He noted that the 70% cap protects the city from legal violations while maximizing benefits for locals. Maltez also pointed out that developments fully funded by the city, such as the project at 55 Heard St., are exempt from state requirements and can offer 100% local preference.
Maltez said that legal counsel and state officials confirmed the feasibility of the 70% threshold. He described the move as a positive response to feedback from developers and residents regarding the new waiting list system.
Councilors Leo Robinson and Calvin T. Brown supported the vote but requested additional verification steps. They want to ensure that applicants claiming resident status meet specific minimum residency requirements before entering the lottery.
The resolution takes effect immediately upon approval, integrating the local preference into the administrative process managed by the Chelsea Housing Authority.
