In the Boston suburb of Lexington, a surge in new housing development is challenging long-held assumptions about green building and multifamily housing policies — and proving that strict energy standards don’t have to stand in the way of growth or affordability.

Over the past two years, Lexington has permitted more than 1,100 new housing units — including 160 affordable units — even as the town has gone above and beyond to implement several environmental building policies, according to Canary Media .

Far from slowing development, local leaders told the nonprofit newsroom that the combination of forward-thinking zoning reforms and fossil fuel restrictions has actually helped accelerate it.

“Opponents said, ‘It’s going to cost so much, you’re going to stop the development of affordabl

See Full Page