Board accepts withdrawal of School Street permit

Planning Board · Meeting of June 23, 2026

BELMONT — The Belmont Planning Board continued a contentious hearing on Hill's Crossing zoning to July 7 and accepted withdrawal of a special permit at 248 School Street. Director of Planning and Building Chris Ryan presented a draft overlay district with heights up to six stories, and seven stories for the roughly 400-unit Hill Estates complex, prompting Associate Member Steve Weinstein and Member Dan Barry to argue for keeping the parcel in the plan and extending height allowances across the railroad tracks. Hill Estates resident Melanie Wasserman asked the board to exclude the property "until we better understand" tenant protections, while Housing Trust member Rachel Heller said "I actually think it's important to include Hill Estates" for affordable housing reasons.

Resident Zafar M. said the complex's units represent an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 residents who could face displacement. On School Street, Inspector of Buildings Ara Yogurtian said the applicant will instead build by right at a 25.3 percent gross floor area increase, under the 30 percent special-permit threshold; the board voted 4-0-0 to accept the withdrawal.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of June 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.