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Overview of Housing Options

Current Status

  • Princeton’s zoning by-laws do not permit construction of new multi-family housing
  • Almost all Princeton housing is single family homes on large lots.

Some Exceptions

  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  • A handful of multi-family residences that pre-date zoning
  • Wachusett House: 6 one-bedroom units for low-income elderly or disabled residents

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

  • Allowed with a special permit
  • Free standing or part of an existing building
  • Shares the well and septic system with the main house
  • Maximum of 2 bedrooms
  • Count as units of affordable housing
  • The relevant zoning by-law is ???

Conversion to Two or Three Family

Princeton’s zoning by-laws allow an existing house on a parcel of 3 acres or more of land to be remodeled into a 2 or 3-family. Restrictions:

  • The house must have been built before 19??
  • If the house sits on 3 or more acres, it can become a 2-family
  • If the house sits on 5 or more acres, it can be become a 2 or 3-family
  • The relevant zoning by-law is Section III (B)

Open Space Residential Design (OSRD)

  • Allowed with a special permit
  • For development projects of 5 or more new single-family houses
  • Allows the houses to be clustered together
  • Designates 50% of the total land as common open space
  • Each house must have a total of two acres for each residence
  • The relevant zoning by-law is Section XIV

Benefits to the Community

  • Create a “village” feel for the neighborhood
  • Reduce the costs and environmental impact of infrastructure (driveways)

Create and preserve common open space

Village Overlay District

  • Encourages new buildings, or additions to current buildings, to be constructed with businesses on the ground floor and residential units on the second (and/or third)
    floors
  • Support “smart growth” business development set back from Worcester Road, rather than
    typical strip malls
  • Located the west side of Worcester Road (Rt. 31), from Stage Coach Road north
    to the Princeton Municipal Light Department
  • The relevant zoning by-law Section XIX

Multi-Family Housing

Princeton by-laws do not allow construction of multi-family housing

Massachusetts Chapter 40B

Chapter 40B is a state initiative to support the construction of affordable housing. Since less than 10% of our housing is considered affordable, developers can build a 40B project. This means:

  • Developers can waive our density requirements of 2 acres per house
  • It could include multi-family housing
  • The development can use a common well and septic system
  • A portion of the resulting units must be available at below-market rates

Friendly 40B Developments

The town invites developers to make proposals for specific locations. Generally, these are multi-family buildings or townhouses.

Continuous Care Community

  • Allows residents to move from independent living to assisted living to a nursing home, all within the same community
  • The relevant zoning by-law is Section III(1)(I)
  • A special permit is required
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