Concord Planning Board Hears Housing Strategy Calling for Broader Affordability Focus

CONCORD — June 16, 2026 — Concord Planning Board reviews housing strategy urging shift beyond state affordability threshold. Matt Johnson, chair of the Concord Affordable Housing Trust and a member of the Concord Housing Foundation, presented "Building Community: A New Housing Strategy for Concord" at the June 16 hybrid meeting, arguing the town has effectively met the state's 10 percent subsidized housing inventory requirement and should now focus on the "missing middle" — households earning between 100 and 250 percent of the Boston area median income who cannot afford Concord's $1.4 million median single-family home. The Affordable Housing Trust set a goal last August of 200 new affordable units over five years; 111 units from two 40B projects and three Habitat for Humanity homes on Old Marlborough Road provide a partial head start. Johnson said a proposed development of 800 to 1,000 units at the MCI Concord site could accomplish most of the attainable housing production targets. The board also set a July 28 target to review a draft zoning bylaw general corrections warrant article, reached consensus to stay out of the Section 106 historic review for a proposed wireless tower at 755 Walden Street, and approved the June 9 minutes 6-0.