Updating Medford’s Broken Zoning

We need to get Medford’s zoning updates project back on track so we can keep implementing the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Housing Plan, Climate Plan, and Open Space Plan. These plans present a clear path for growth in our city that revitalizes and grows our squares and commercial districts, addresses the housing affordability crisis, holds developers accountable to community needs, and makes Medford more climate resilient.

Continuing the work to update zoning in Medford Square is the top priority, as well as working on the zoning for West Medford Square, Wellington, and our other key corridors on Main Street, Boston Ave, and Broadway. Revitalizing our business districts and supporting new commercial and mixed-use growth in these areas will make our city a better place to live and help to raise revenue we need to fund our schools, city services, infrastructure needs, and fixes and safety improvements for our streets and sidewalks.

Approving a Tufts Institutional Zoning district is also essential so we can hold Tufts University accountable and negotiate a better, fairer deal for our city with the goal of making sure Tufts acts like a good neighbor.

When it comes to residential rezoning, I support zoning updates that allow more housing that fits our neighborhoods, holds developers accountable to our community needs, better protects green space and trees, and implements creative solutions to preserve historic homes by allowing more housing units within existing buildings.

I take ownership over the need for more communication about zoning updates. While I stand by the City Council’s original proposal for residential zoning updates (not the Community Development Board’s more dense proposal that raised concerns and questions from residents), at this point, we need a reset. The City Council and Planning Team need to take more time, and the Mayor needs to provide significant resources to communicate with residents and facilitate more discussions about updates that could benefit our neighborhoods and our city.