Belmont Town Meeting Approves Center Zoning Overlay 165-87
Belmont Special Town Meeting approves Belmont Center form-based zoning overlay, 165-87, after rejecting postponement.
Special Town Meeting · Meeting of March 4, 2026
Belmont Special Town Meeting approves Belmont Center form-based zoning overlay, 165-87, after rejecting postponement. Members first voted down a motion to indefinitely postpone Article 2, 146-121, before passing the overlay, which allows buildings up to five stories in parts of the center and requires two floors of commercial use. Warrant Committee Chair Paul Richter projected a net annual fiscal impact of $240,000 to $940,000, "not a small amount," while Select Board member Elizabeth Dion said "it is time for town meeting to take a clear stand on expanding the town's commercial property tax base." Former moderator Michael Widmer warned "the overlay proposal will not provide meaningful property tax relief." The Warrant Committee itself split 6-6 with four abstentions on the article.
Town meeting adjourns to March 5 to consider Article 3.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 975 words
Source: the Special Town Meeting meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Belmont meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Belmont who follows town government? Share Townbrief Belmont: they can sign up free.