This is an update on the Belmont Center Zoning Project for Monday, November 24, 2025. Last Thursday, the Planning Board unanimously voted to recommend favorable action to Town Meeting on all four proposed amendments to the Zoning By-Law:
- New Section 10 - Belmont Center Overlay District (BCOD)
- New Section 10A - Center Gateway Overlay District (CGOD)
- New Section 6.15 - Hotel Use Regulations
- Amended Section 2.1 - Classes (of Use)
We have created a new web page for the Town Meeting documents and information which is HERE. The project page HERE will remain as a primary repository of information and documents. The zoning amendment language voted by the Planning Board is available in both places. Below is additional information on this initiative.
- The three new sections include an "effective date" of November 1, 2026 in order to make sure the Town has time to pass the additional bylaws and regulations necessary to make everything function as intended. These include:
- Complete re-write of Section 7.3, Design and Site Plan Review (DSPR)
- New Rules and Regulations for the Planning Board (R&Rs)
- New Section 5,5, Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
- New Section 5.6, Construction Management (CM)
- The Select Board is also working on development of a Parking Management Plan for the town as a whole, including the Center.
- The final parking study report has been received and has been uploaded to the project site. You can download it HERE.
- The date for the Special Town Meeting in which these four amendments will be heard has been set for March 4, 2026.
- We are preparing and will release a revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sometime in early December.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at cryan@belmont-ma.gov or BelmontCenterZoning@belmont-ma.gov or call 617-993-2658. We also are still maintaining the public comment form on the project website where you can view prior comments and questions.