Housing Production Plan Update 2022-23

The Town of Reading's Housing Production Plan update was approved by the DHCD in March 2023. The final approved Plan document can be viewed here. 


What is a Housing Production Plan?

A Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a community's proactive strategy for planning and developing affordable housing. The purpose of a Housing Production Plan is to identify and address the housing needs of the community. A state-regulated plan that requires approval by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Housing Production Plan focuses on developing and preserving homes that meet the requirements of the state’s affordable housing law, commonly known as Chapter 40B.

Housing Thresholds under Massachusetts' Chapter 40B

Housing Production Plans create a strategy to enable municipalities to meet their affordable housing needs in a manner consistent with the Chapter 40B statute and regulation. The Town of Reading has made significant progress toward meeting and exceeding the state's 10% Subsidized Housing Inventory threshold. For more information on Housing Production Plans, visit Mass.gov. 

Housing Production Plan (HPP) process documents:

2023 Housing Production Plan (HPP) Engagement Summary:

Public Survey

A town-wide survey was distributed for feedback and information. Nearly 800 survey responses were submitted, you can find the results summary here. 

Monday October 24, 2022 Hybrid Forum

The HPP Working Group and consultant Anser Advisory held a hybrid public forum on Tuesday October 24, 2022 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The forum included a presentation on Affordable Housing (definition, benefits, qualifications, etc.), census data, survey data and data on the local housing market and cost burdening of such. It ended on a workshop identifying Reading Housing Goals and the Strategies that would help to reach such goals. 

You can find a copy of the presentation here. You can also watch a recording of hybrid forum here. 

Tuesday November 29, 2022 Remote Forum

A second remote forum was held on Tuesday November 29, 2022 at 6:00PM to discuss housing related goals and strategies moving forward. 

You can find a copy of the presentation, that includes the Goals and Strategies, here. 

CPDC Update:

An update on the plan was provided to the CPDC on Monday February 6, 2023. 

Select Board Update:

An update on the plan was provided to the Select Board on Tuesday January 10, 2023 and again on Tuesday January 24, 2023, where the plan received a vote of approval.