The Governor has ordered all cities and towns that have an MBTA line running through them to add X% of affordable housing units. While most are in favor of affordable housing, the rush to get it done before Town Meeting is troubling. The Committee has committed in its official documents to complete its rezoning decisions by Feb 29 – two weeks away. These decisions will change people’s lives.

We’ve been told legal action will be taken if the Town doesn’t comply although some cities/towns have refused to comply, for example the city of Milton.

Our Town will not even consider non compliance and the MBTA Commision, chaired by Rachel Heller and Roy Epstein are trying to be finished by April.  We are required to add 1632 units of housing to our Town by law, but some on the committee are seeking to increase the number of new households to 3000. Our Town currently has 10,000 households so that is an increase in population of more than 33%.  There has been no fiscal impact study on the effects on the schools, town services, roads, pollution, or traffic. Most Belmont residents have no idea this is happening or have heard vague talk of it.  This past week’s Belmont voice had an informative article describing it but the article doesn’t address the reality of the immense changes this will make to the small Town of Belmont

There have been several options discussed on locations for this housing and 3 “final” options are being discussed. Each of the options includes a range of zoning which allows for zone 1 small scale neighborhood, zone 2 moderate scale neighborhood residential,  zone 2A same as zone 2 but can add additional floor if one floor is commercial, Zone 3 moderate scale traditional residential, zone 4 small scale mixed use, Zone 5 moderate to large scale mixed use  (can grow to 6 stories in height).

The following images are from the MBTA Committees Advisory Committee

If zone 5 is approved for Leonard Street, it will turn it into a city block. The above image shows 4 stories but the actual zoning could allow for 6.  No residential neighborhood in Belmont should be subjected to this size and density.

It is my belief that very few residents know this is coming, and fast.

There is a Public Hearing for the MBTA Committee Thursday 2/15 at 7pm, Beech Street Center.

I hope you’ll attend, listen and help to reduce the numbers back to 1620 and remove Belmont Center from zone 5. We are not a city. 

Most importantly residents should demand a fiscal impact study BEFORE anything goes to the Planning Board, Select Board or Town Meeting. This plan will greatly impact the Town of Belmont. The Town needs to start paying attention to all the taxpayers, not just a select few.