The Planning Board had a very full agenda in 2007, including holding hearings on and considering seven amendments to the Zoning By-Laws, Design and Site Plan Reviews for six development proposals, continued work to implement the Economic Development Study of 2003, and consideration of the merits of undertaking Comprehensive Planning in Belmont.
The Board included Karl Haglund, Chair, Andew McClurg, Clerk, Sami Baghdady, Jennifer Fallon and Andres Rojas. Mr. McClurg did not seek reappointment in June when his term expired. In July the Board welcomed new member Carla Moynihan. In the fall the Board elected Jennifer Fallon Chairman and Andres Rojas Clerk. Representatives from the Board to other boards and committees included: Traffic Advisory Committee, Mr. McClurg and Mr. Haglund; Housing Trust, Mr. McClurg and Ms. Moynihan; Capital Budget Committee, Ms Fallon; Belmont Center Planning Group, Mr. Baghdady; Capital Projects Overview Committee, Mr. Rojas.
Most notable among the amendments to the Zoning By-Law was the passage by Town Meeting of the Oakley Neighborhood Overlay District, developed under MGL Chapter 40R for the Our Lady of Mercy parish properties which are currently for sale by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. This proposal grew out of the work of the Oakley Neighborhood Association, a group of neighbors and residents of the area who achieved consensus and worked with staff and consultants to create the zoning to support their vision for the neighborhood. The Planning Board was pleased to be part of this process and applauds it as a model for community involvement in creating future zoning amendments.
Other amendments included consideration of several setback requirements and requirements for affordable units as part of residential development above commercial property. A proposal to allow expanded, non-accessory use of house of worship parking lots was withdrawn by the Board for further study following public comment. That and a proposal to require a Special Permit for banks in commercial districts, which did not receive Town Meeting approval, will be brought for reconsideration at the next Annual Town Meeting in April.
Approval for several important projects proposed to the Board for Design and Site Plan Review was accomplished. Waverley Woods, a development of 40 affordable units of housing on land transferred to the Town under the agreement with McLean Hospital was approved. The Board continued to work with the Senior Center Building Committee to ensure that all conditions of the site plan decision voted in December 2006 would be met and the project receive final approval, and joint hearings were held with the Zoning Board of Appeals on the necessary approvals requested for the redevelopment of the former fire station on Leonard St. in Belmont Center, to include a restaurant on the first floor, offices on the second, and the construction of a third floor with office space.
The Board continued to work on implementing the recommendations of the Economic Development Study. Following up on the passage by Town Meeting of the Cushing Square Overlay District in 2006, the Board started to focus on "Transition Zones", identifying the areas to be considered, analyzing data showing present uses, and beginning to define the appropriate questions to ask in considering zoning changes for these somewhat mixed commercial and residential use zones. The Board began to consider how to establish a process for developing a vision and determining what zoning changes may be desirable for Waverley Square, and continued to meet with the Belmont Center Planning Group about its proposals for the future of Belmont Center. The Board also continued to meet with the Traffic Advisory Committee and its consultants
on the development of the design for the reconstruction of the Trapelo Rd./Belmont St. corridor.
Another significant project was a study of residential parking issues, requested by the Zoning Board of Appeals as a result of residents' concerns with enforcement of limits on the number of vehicles parked in a driveway and front yard parking requirements currently in the Zoning By-Law. In November, the Planning Board forwarded to the Board of Selectmen a paper detailing the issues and identifying possible changes to procedures and regulations, including a recommendation that parking regulations may be more appropriately located in the General By-Laws of the Town.
Some of the potentially most far reaching work the Planning Board undertook this year was consideration of the merits of comprehensive planning for Belmont and the development of a case that the Town should pursue such a planning process. Belmont's last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1963. The Board prepared a paper for the Board of Selectmen outlining the Comprehensive Planning Process and its potential benefits for Belmont and met with the Selectmen to begin the conversation about the possibility of finding the resources to undertake the development of a Comprehensive Plan. As consideration of how to fund such a project continues, the Planning Board will begin to reach out to other boards and committees in its work to define the scope of a Comprehensive Plan for Belmont.
As we move forward in the coming year, the Planning Board hopes to become more familiar with the concepts of Form Based Zoning to understand its potential for application in Belmont as we think about how our zoning regulations meet the needs and promote the vision our community has for itself, as well as advance the revitalization efforts for the commercial areas.
The sincere thanks of the Board go to the staff of the Office of Community Development and, especially, to Jay Szklut, Planning and Economic Development Manager, and Jeffrey Wheeler, Planning Coordinator, for their support and guidance throughout the year.
The Planning Board welcomes public participation. The Board's meeting notices and current information on active projects are posted on the Planning Board's webpage within the Town's website. Comments and questions are welcome and can be sent to jszklut@town.belmont.ma.us or to jwheeler@town.belmont.ma.us .
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Fallon, Chairman
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