We are committed to preserving the character and charm of Carlisle in a way that satisfies the state’s MBTA Communities Zoning mandate and minimizes the negative impacts on residents and neighborhoods.

On November 2nd, Carlisle will vote on the approaches

put forth by the Planning Board regarding the

MBTA Communities zoning mandate.

This vote will be one of the most consequential decisions Carlisle has ever made concerning its future.

Who we are

CAP is a grassroots group of current Carlisle residents that has been engaged with Carlisle's MBTA Communities response for over a year. Read more about us here.

What we support

Our warrant article

CAP has always advocated for the Planning Board to provide an option that complies with the mandate but does not do more or add extra land. We call this the minimum land option. Our citizens petition asking the town to advise the PB to provide this option passed by a 3 to 1 margin at Spring Town Meeting. We continue to advocate that the Planning Board should fulfill the town’s advice and provide a minimum land option. Read more about the current state of the warrant article here.

Fair voting practices

CAP is focused on issues of voter fairness and education. We advocate for the Town to have clear and complete choices on Nov 2nd. Read our letter to Wayne Davis, Town Moderator, here.

What we believe

We believe that the MBTA Communities law is poorly suited to Carlisle

The intention of the law is to safely create dense housing in areas with municipal infrastructure (piped water and sewer). It is CAP’s position that due to our lack of water and sewer infrastructure, it is not possible for Carlisle to use this law to further our housing goals. With the November 2nd Town Meeting approaching quickly, CAP believes that the town needs to decouple achieving MBTA Communities compliance from the matter of developing more affordable housing options. To date, most of the housing around Carlisle that has been created in compliance with the MBTA Communities law has not been affordable.

Our overriding goal is to minimize harm to Carlisle residents

CAP continues to support the minimum land approach put forth in the Warrant Article for the Spring Town Meeting as the best way to minimize the impact of the MBTA Communities law on Carlisle. Minimal rezoned acreage means minimal development potential, and this how virtually all other small towns are complying.

Read more here about why it would be impossible to build 95 units on 6 acres.
And check out a summary of how other towns are complying.

Alternatively, rezoning over property that is already densely developed and unlikely to get redeveloped also achieves compliance and frees the PB to do what’s in the Town’s best interest. We do not support rezoning more acreage than the minimum allowed.

We have always opposed the "scattered sites" strategy

On Sept 22nd, the Planning Board conceded that this strategy is non-compliant and they removed it from consideration. CAP will always oppose any plan that is so categorically unsafe for Carlisle and unfair to homeowners and abutters.