The Belmont Planning Board recently uploaded its plan for Belmont Overlay Zoning Districts – PLURAL – raising the specter that the cramming of Belmont Center with 4-6 story buildings could be coming to your neighborhood next. 

The plan cover photograph is cheerfully optimistic. What doesn’t it show you?

It doesn’t show you the facts: eg that 200 people would be cramming a narrow street from the 100 new apartments being planned for the Center.

It doesn’t show you the lack of parking and back-to-back traffic along Leonard St. at ALL times, whereas now it’s just in rush hour(s).

It doesn’t show you rats running across Leonard street, which would turn into a huge construction zone for at least 5-10 years.

It doesn’t show you the DOZEN empty storefronts, not just a handful, along Leonard, because our well loved local stores will have gone out of business, or left : the business owners have said clearly that they will be forced out if this plan is approved. 

No Toy Shop of Belmont. No Bessie Blue. No Ranc’s. No Belmont Bookstore. No Helena’s. No Revolve. No Wellington’s. No Chocolate Dream. No Westcott Mercantile. ETC.

And because the cover of the plan speaks of “overlay zoning districts”, PLURAL, and because the Planning Board and Town Planner haven’t done their due diligence and conducted impact studies, the reality for not just the Center but for you could be this:

THE REALITY: 

NOT this: THE DELUSION

This is why it’s ESSENTIAL to vote on April 1 in our local elections!  Your future in this town, your home, your neighborhood, depends on it. 

Paul Joy, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, has a different vision for change, economic development and responsible, careful planning.

Paul’s key focuses are :

1. Parking: Eliminate business parking mandates: help businesses flourish. Pledge to maintain the Claflin St. parking lot permanently. (According to the Planning Board it has been saved, for now)

2. Upzone only areas ripe for COMMERCIAL development eg Purecoat, some areas of Concord Ave..

3. Streamline new business applications, and refresh vacant storefronts using state money via grants 

4. Hospitality on Concord Ave, where it will enhance, not outcompete, local independent businesses 

5. Yes to drive through’s! A restaurant and rooftop bar over the Bank of America building ? 

What’s so different about this plan? It has NONE of the negative downstream impacts we will suffer from Taylor Yates’ plan. And Paul listens: to every stakeholder, every resident. He is not dismissive or callous, unlike his opponent, to shop owner’s and abutter’s concerns. He is thoughtful, responsible, inclusive, a good steward – and he tells the truth.

Shape YOUR future in Belmont! Exercise your vote!

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Belmont Deserves Better. Our lives, homes and businesses are on the line.

– A Group of Concerned Belmont Citizens