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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 48
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / RESIDENTIAL PARKING
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 6.1.10.A.(1) and
(2), Location of Parking Spaces, Parking in Residential Districts,
of the Zoning Bylaw, to clarify that it includes the Multi- Family
Housing Overlay Districts; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Redevelopment Board
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends Favorable Action (4-1, Mr. Baudoin
dissenting).
The purpose of Article 48 is to clarify that Section 6.1.10, Location
of Parking Spaces, of the Zoning Bylaw applies to properties
within the Mass Ave/Broadway Multi-Family (MBMF) and
Neighborhood Multi-Family (NMF) Housing Overlay Districts. The
dissenting Board member felt that the requirements of Section
6.1.10 should not automatically apply to the Multi-Family Housing
Overlay Districts, because there may be situations in which the
Board wishes to be more flexible with parking for developments in
those districts, particularly the limit of one driveway. The other
Board members felt that it was appropriate for the same
requirements to apply, and the Board can make a finding to allow
more than one driveway when necessary. It was further noted that
the language as proposed was consistent with the way the Board
has interpreted the parking requirements in the Multi-Family
Housing Overlay Districts.
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Section 5.8.4.F.(1) of the Zoning Bylaw already states that the off-
street parking requirements and procedures of Section 6.1 to
6.1.11 of this Bylaw shall apply in the MBMF and NMF Overlay
Districts. Article 48 adds clarification language in Section 6.1.10,
but does not propose any new parking requirements.
Vote Language:
That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:
Amend SECTION 6.1.10.A.(1) and (2), Location of Parking
Spaces, Parking in Residential Districts, as follows:
6.1.10 Location of Parking Spaces
Required off-street parking spaces shall be provided on the same
lot as the principal use they are required to serve, or when
practical difficulties prevent their establishment on the same lot,
they shall be established no further than 600 feet from the
premises they serve, subject to approval by the Board of Appeals
or Arlington Redevelopment Board, as applicable. Such spaces
may be located outside or within a structure designed as a public
or private garage. Projects subject to Section 3.4, Environmental
Design Review, or Section 5.8, Site Plan Review, may provide
parking off-site within 600 feet where it can be shown that a long-
term, legally enforceable agreement has been made to secure off-
site parking.
A. Parking in Residential Districts and Multi-Family Housing
Overlay Districts.
(1) For single-family, two-family, duplex, and three-
family dwellings in all Residential Districts or
properties developed in compliance with the Multi-
Family Housing Overlay District under Section 5.8
of this Bylaw:
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e) To minimize visual impacts, side yards used
for parking shall have a vegetated buffer
when abutting a lot used for residential
purposes. Except as altered by Special
Permit or as part of site plan review, such
vegetated buffer shall be a minimum of two
and one-half feet in width, or if its width is
less than two and one-half feet it must have a
minimum height of 4 feet, except no such
buffer shall be over two and one-half feet in
height above the adjacent ground within five
feet of the front lot line unless it can be
shown that such buffer will not restrict
visibility in such a way as to hinder the safe
entry of a vehicle from the driveway to the
street.
(2) For single-family, two-family, duplex, and three-
family dwellings in R0, R1, R2, R3 and R4
districts or properties developed in compliance
with the Multi-Family Housing Overlay District
under Section 5.8 of this Bylaw:
a) Only one driveway is permitted on a lot
unless …
Redevelopment Board Report
