Rehoboth Group Opposes MBTA Housing

A Rehoboth group opposed to the state’s MBTA law has formed on social media.

“The MBTA Communities Law poses a significant threat to our way of life here in Rehoboth,” says Rehoboth Against MBTA Law.

A public forum is being held on Wednesday at 7 pm by the Planning Board at the Museum Meeting Room at Francis Farm. The town’s legal counsel will be available to answer questions from board members and residents.

Last month, Selectmen Chair Skip Vadnais said the law would have a “derogatory” impact on the town.

The MBTA Communities Act requires 177 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts — designated as rapid transit, commuter rail, adjacent, and adjacent small town communities — to rezone near T stops to allow for multi-family housing as of right. “As of right” means multi-family housing would be allowed to go up in the rezoned areas without special permits or other discretionary processes.

The deadline for compliance is December 31, 2025.

The group notes the law “is a zoning law currently being strong-armed into rural communities by the State of Massachusetts and Governor Maura Healey. The efforts to impose the law have been combined with ultimatums for non-compliance in an effort to force state sanctioned zoning in towns across Massachusetts, and our time to fight back is running out.”

“If we do not comply with the State’s egregious overreach of power, they have threatened to revoke grant funding, but the cost to our way of life if we comply is far greater,” the group added.