A zoning article informally called “Habitat for All” — intended to encourage smaller, clustered homes and provide incentives for affordable units — drew broad support from candidates at the forum, while water commissioners said they want safeguards for water quality before the article reaches town meeting.

Peter Berry, a candidate for the Acton Housing Authority, said the proposal emphasizes compact housing and incentives for smaller units and for affordable units within a clustered development. “I support it,” Berry said, describing incentives in the draft that aim to produce smaller homes and create options for lower-cost housing.

Select Board candidates including Dean Shatter and David voiced support for the concept as a way to provide more workforce housing and to avoid building larger, high-cost single-family homes. “Whatever we can do… to encourage smaller, more affordable homes is a great way to go,” Shatter said.

The Acton Water District commissioners raised concerns about possible impacts on water quality and septic siting. A commissioner at the forum said changes in the warrant language may be less protective of water resources than prior language and that the water district has submitted questions to the planning board; the commissioners requested a mechanism to be able to review proposals that use subsurface wastewater disposal in potentially sensitive areas before final approval.

At least one resident asked about tree clearing and septic constraints associated with clustered housing options; the planning and engineering details were described as subject to further study. The article is expected to appear on the town meeting warrant; water commissioners said they will seek clarifications in the planning-board review process before voters take up the article.