A bill advancing in the statehouse would allow four-story apartment buildings within half a mile of any rail station in the state, overriding local zoning rules that limit many of those neighborhoods to single-family homes.
Supporters say it could add tens of thousands of homes near transit over the next decade. “We have stations surrounded by parking lots and single-family lots. That’s the opposite of what we need,” said state Senator Grace Whitfield, the bill’s sponsor.
Several suburban mayors have opposed the bill, arguing that it removes local control. The Senate housing committee is scheduled to vote next week.
