There’s so much to like about Medford’s recently passed zoning reforms designed to boost housing construction, including making it easier to build multifamily housing in commercial zones. But as B&T’s Steve Adams reports, there’s now intense controversy in Medford surrounding a proposal to make it easier to build multifamily housing in existing single-family districts. … Sounds like the mayor is right: the reform proposals now on the table go too far and city officials need to slow down on making changes. …

I’ve harped on this general issue before as it relates to recent Cambridge zoning changes. My main concern: if done wrong, housing reforms can create a backlash, discrediting reform efforts and strengthening NIMBY forces in the process. … An example of getting it wrong: allowing developers to knock down existing single-family homes, or knock down small double- or triple-deckers, to build larger multifamily-housing projects in predominantly single-family neighborhoods. It’s a policy sure to ignite controversy, particularly if it happens in historic areas and/or already densely packed urban-like neighborhoods. … Maybe restrict knockdowns? Limit new multifamily projects to only two or three units (i.e. triple-deckers) if they’re in a previously designated single-family district? … Just throwing out ideas.