MA Ballot Question 7, which would have barred local ordinances against single-family homes built on residentially zoned lots that have at least 5,000 square feet, 50 feet of frontage and access to public water and sewer service, narrowly lost at the polls by 50.6% to 49.4% (a difference of less than 3,000 votes). The measure would have unlocked zoning ordinances for so-called “starter homes.” Question 7 applied only to properties with access to public water and sewer — effectively excluding more than 78 percent of Massachusetts’s land area. While we are disappointed in this result, GBREB will continue engaging with policymakers and advocates to encourage polices that promote housing supply. For additional insights on the question, visit this link.