Planning Board continues zoning hearings to Sept. 8

Planning Board · Meeting of August 25, 2026

BELMONT — The Belmont Planning Board continued hearings on major zoning amendments to September 8 after debating roof styles, use categories and ground-floor rules for a proposed Hill's Crossing Overlay District. Chair Thayer Donham led the board through 4-0 votes to approve August 4 minutes, continue a 45 Chestnut Street special-permit case, and continue the full zoning package, while welcoming new associate member Madeline Fraser-Cook. Director of Planning and Building Chris Ryan said the board could drop a required residential floor in mixed-use buildings but would then need a Town Meeting supermajority instead of a simple majority.

Member Dan Barry warned a commercial-only ground floor could block active-adult senior housing, saying "it'd be a shame" to miss that opportunity. Resident Ira Morgenstern pressed staff on a stalled fiscal impact analysis, saying residents have gotten no answer "for quite a few weeks."

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.