Kingston currently sits at a critical crossroads regarding its housing stock, with new data showing the town must add 254 affordable units to meet the state’s 10 percent mandate. During a Monday night Planning Board meeting, Jason DaRosier of the Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) presented a nearly finalized five-year Housing Production Plan (HPP) that warns of an aging population and a significant lack of diverse housing options for residents who are increasingly severely cost-burdened.

According to the OCPC findings, only 5.1 percent of Kingston’s 5,251 year-round housing units are currently on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). To address this, the draft plan estimates the town will need between 450 and 550 total new units by 2035, with at least 20 to 25 percent of those being income-restricted. DaRosier emphasized a focus on missing middle housing, which includes duplexes, cottage clusters, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), rather than large-scale developments. We need smaller, lower-maintenance homes for seniors to age in place, as well as workforce housing, DaRosier told the board, noting that many residents are currently spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs.

Vice Chair David Gavigan raised concerns about how the town's increasing inventory of ADUs fits into these state-mandated metrics, noting that the town is rapidly reaching its geographic limits. I feel like that's where we're headed. There will be a lot more ADUs and less building of new homes because we're kind of out of land in Kingston, Gavigan said. DaRosier suggested that the town explore a formal process to count ADUs toward the SHI to ensure they help meet state benchmarks rather than just increasing the total housing count. Adopting the HPP would also grant the town Safe Harbor status, allowing the Zoning Board of Appeals to deny certain 40B projects if the town meets annual affordable housing production targets. Member Robert Ketter signaled his support for the upcoming document, stating, I look forward to seeing the plan.

The board also moved to repair what officials described as lost zoning following a 2025 recodification of the town’s bylaws. Town Planner Valerie Massard explained that a consultant’s error had accidentally stripped the Commercial and Industrial districts of several allowed uses, including manufacturing, bottling, and warehousing. In 2025, when the bylaw was recodified, we carried over commercial uses into a table. The consultant accidentally listed many uses as 'not allowed' simply because they weren't explicitly listed with specific square footage descriptors in the old narrative, Massard explained. We lost a lot of zoning. In addition to these housekeeping fixes, the board reviewed updates to the ADU bylaws to comply with state law by removing owner-occupancy requirements and proposed increasing the rear setback from five feet to ten feet for any accessory structure larger than 600 square feet.

Motion Made by A. Graham to recommend favorable action to Town Meeting on the housekeeping article, ADU law updates, and accessory structures article. Motion Passed 3-0. Member Alexander Graham thanked the planning department for catching the errors, saying, We appreciate the work you've done. I'm just thankful it was a recognizable pattern and you were able to get through it. Earlier in the meeting, the board also addressed a pending project at 31 Forest Avenue, which has seen repeated continuances. Motion Made by R. Ketter to continue the public hearing for 31 Forest Avenue to May 12th at 7:05 PM. Motion Passed 3-0.

Financial guarantees were also a priority as the board approved a significant cash deposit to finalize the Greystone Village subdivision on Charles Drive. To ensure the developer completes the final top coat of pavement, sidewalks, and monuments, the town required a performance guarantee of $218,297. Massard noted that while the developer offered a letter of credit, she insisted on cash. If they default, the money is the sole property of the town to finish the work, she said, adding that the pavement alone is estimated to cost $100,000. Motion Made by A. Graham to accept the performance guarantee in the value of $218,297 for Charles Drive. Motion Passed 3-0. Following that vote, the board cleared the remaining hurdles for the developer to move forward with selling the final homes. Motion Made by A. Graham to release all remaining lots for the subdivision known as Greystone Village subject to the receipt of the performance guarantee. Motion Passed 3-0.

Looking ahead to infrastructure improvements, Massard provided updates on several high-profile traffic projects. The town has applied for a federal grant to construct a roundabout at the Big Y intersection, which would encompass Tarkln Road, CVS, and the Arcade Plaza. Massard noted that while roundabouts are expensive, they significantly reduce accidents and idling time. Gavigan expressed enthusiasm for the design, noting, I like the roundabouts. I loved what they did at Route 53 and Winter Street. It's so much safer. Other upcoming work includes paving Route 106 from Summer Street to the town line and a $50,000 earmark moving through the State Senate for design work on the Exit 20 ramps.