Edwards says that the company plans to file the proposal underthe state's Chapter 40B affordable housing law. The law enablesdevelopers to bypass local zoning laws if its project has at least25% affordable housing and the town does not have 10% of itshousing affordable. The Broadway parcel is currently industriallyzoned and would need rezoning approval before First Development canbuild.

Municipalities have long decried the way some developers useChapter 40B to force them to accept their projects. Dracutcurrently only has 5% of its housing affordable, but Edwards notesthat because the town has a housing productivity plan in which thetown plans to increase its affordable units by 1.5% it has moreleverage in dealing with a 40B project. Edwards says the stategives a town a two-year break, while the affordable housing it hasplanned is being constructed.

Still, Edwards points out that the town is open to hearing aboutFirst Development's proposal. ""If it's good for the town, we'llsupport it," he says.