About Face

By Matthew Power. Builders often object to so-called anti-snob laws that require a minimum percentage of affordable housing units within a certain jurisdiction. In the town of Bolton, Mass., however, that rule is working in favor of developers. Town officials have capped building permits at 37 per year, driving home prices into the $600,000 range. And developers are allowed to build no more than seven units each. As a result, they have turned to the Massachusetts Chapter 40B law to override local zoning laws, allowing them to build large subdivisions of more affordable housing.