On May 8, 2025 two momentous events happened. In Rome, the College of Cardinals elected an American Pope. Minutes before the white smoke appeared Vatican experts were on television saying it would never happen. And then it did.

Later that evening in Milton, our Planning Board voted to advance a zoning plan that met the state’s requirements for our town after many of us saying that it would never happen. I believe I heard church bells ringing in town, perhaps celebrating both votes!

While Pope Leo XIV celebrates a week on the job, Milton’s compliant zoning plan didn’t make it that far. On May 13th, our Planning Board took a highly unusual step and rescinded its vote, deciding to advance another plan that is out of compliance with the state law and zones for 60% less housing than the state has required.

Pray for us.

The now-rescinded plan would have brought us into compliance, sparing East Milton residents who voted overwhelmingly against the previous plan in 2024, and creating multi-family zoning districts in more neighborhoods in West Milton. It is not a perfect plan but it is a good, thoughtful plan crafted by Planning Board member Cheryl Tougias (the lone voice of compliance on our Planning Board) and the town’s expert consultants from Utile.

What comes next is anyone’s guess. Milton is at risk of missing yet another state deadline. And being sued once again. And continuing to lose out on state grants, the latest being the loss of a grant for a van for our Council on Aging. Outgoing Select Board member Erin Bradley tallied the total cost to Milton so far as over $1.1 million in legal fees and lost grants.

Pray for us now.

There is hope beyond the prayers. While two incumbents were returned to the Planning Board, two new members were elected to the Select Board and a new Town Moderator was elected as well. Town Meeting is strongly in favor of following the law. But zoning articles must pass through the Planning Board and four of the five members seem to be doing everything in their power to avoid our responsibility to follow a state mandate.

Pray for us.

Pray for a kind and benevolent special master appointed by the Attorney General if we continue to resist. Pray for state officials with short memories when we do eventually comply and the state evaluates funding requests from Milton for vans, schools, public safety, and more. And pray for our neighbors who need more housing options in a town that hasn’t grown in over fifty years. Our population in 1970 was 27,190; today it is 28,811 – a 0.1% annual growth rate. For comparison, neighboring Canton has grown by over 7,000 residents in that time; Sharon over 6,000.

An American Pope and a compliant zoning plan turned out to be too much to expect in one day. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. Milton will be in compliance, consistent with being a rapid transit community. It will be a day in the future. And it will be a day!