This graph illustrates what many suburban and rural residents know from experience--new residential developments do not pay for themselves!
In fact, open space, represented by 'other' in this graph, provides income that offsets the costs of residential units.
Undeveloped, open space requires very little or no public services--cows and deer don't go to school! Open space also benefits quality of life that have value, but are sometimes hard to quantify, like: peace and quiet, a relaxing view, an oasis of natural habitat. Once that land is lost to development it will never again (or take a loooong time!) to revert back to natural habitat.
Did you know we lose nearly 50 acres a day in natural habitat in Massachusetts?!
I bet you didn't know that 40B enables much of that previously unbuild-able to be developed?
40B allows developers to sidestep local zoning and conservation laws if they agree to make 20-25% of the units "affordable." Much of the land that is sited for 40Bs would be unbuild-able without 40B.
This is just one reason of many that 40B is a terrible law.
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