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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 52
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / REZONING OF CERTAIN
PARCELS FROM R-1 TO R-2
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Map of the Town
of Arlington by rezoning certain parcels presently located in the R-
1 One-Family District to the R-2 Two-Family District, specifically
parcels located on Norcross Street, North Union Street, Gardner
Street and Granton Park; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
Stephen McKenna and ten registered voters
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends Favorable Action (5-0).
Article 52 proposes a corrective zoning map change from R1
Single-Family District to R2 Two-Family District for certain parcels
located on Norcross Street, North Union Street, Gardner Street
and Granton Park in East Arlington. The proponent of the article
has prepared a map showing 20 parcels, many of which have
two- or three-family homes but are zoned R1. This warrant article
proposes to make the zoning of the neighborhood more
consistent by rezoning those properties as R2, thus expanding
the abutting R2 district. The proponent also noted that the
neighborhood is already fairly dense, and the included parcels are
near the Mass Ave/Broadway Multi-Family Housing Overlay
District.
The Board identified this article as a minor change, but a good
step towards developing a targeted, more systematic method of
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allowing more two-family dwellings by right in Arlington by
focusing on areas with inconsistent zoning. Members also agreed
that as a Board, they need to look more broadly at where to
prioritize rezoning initiatives. The Department of Planning and
Community Development confirmed that the proponent had met
all state and local requirements for abutter notification. The
proponent estimated that he has received responses from 65-
70% of the neighbors who were notified. He has not made contact
with all the owners of the parcels proposed for rezoning; he noted
that some owners do not live locally, but they all were sent a letter
from him. The Board recognized that this change would provide
more flexibility to property owners and eliminate non-conforming
uses on some parcels.
During the hearing, Board members responded to several
questions about increasing existing non-conformities. They
confirmed that single-family and two-family dwellings are treated
identically under the section of state law that regulates non-
conformities (M.G.L. c.40a, Section 6). Parcels with at least 5,000
square feet and 50 feet of frontage can be redeveloped as long as
there was a previous structure which was erected in accordance
with zoning at the time. Projects on parcels that did not meet
these requirements would have to go to the Zoning Board of
Appeals for approval.
The Board also briefly touched on dimensional standards in the
Zoning Bylaw, such as setbacks and open space requirements, to
demonstrate that rezoning parcels from R1 to R2 would have no
impact on the size of the building allowed or amount of open
space required, whether it is a single-family or two-family
dwelling.
Vote Language:
That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:
Amend the Zoning Map as follows:
Maps showing the parcels to be rezoned are below.
