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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 57
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS-- BONUSES
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.8.4 E (1)
Development Standards - Bonuses - to add the following: "In the
MBMF Overlay District for properties abutting Massachusetts
Avenue in which 100% of new units will be affordable, where the
ground floor at street level will be at least 30% occupied by eating
and drinking establishments, business services, including without
limitation business services provided to clientele residing in
properties in which 100% of new units will be affordable, any non-
profit organization for work related to their organizational mission,
business, professional or medical services, childcare, or retail
uses, the second floor may be at least 40% occupied by eating
and drinking establishments, business services, childcare, health,
business, professional or medical services, and the frontage on
the ground floor is at least 80% occupied by said non-residential
uses, the maximum height is 6 stores and 78 feet, and the front
yard setback requirement is reduced to 0 feet. In the MBMF
Overly District, for properties abutting Broadway in which 100% of
new units will be affordable, where the ground floor at street level
will be at least 30% occupied by eating and drinking
establishments, business services, including without limitation,
business services provided to clientele residing in properties in
which 100% of new units will be affordable, any non-profit
organization for work related to their organizational mission,
business, professional or medical services, childcare, or retail
uses, and the frontage is at least 80% occupied by said non-
residential uses, the maximum height is 5 stories and 65 feet, and
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the front yard setback requirement is reduced to 0 feet.”; or take
any action related thereto.
Requested By:
Neal Mongold and ten registered voters
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends No Action (5-0).
Article 57 proposes to reduce the mixed-use bonus requirements for
projects that provide 100% affordable housing and are located within the
Mass Ave/Broadway Multi-Family (MBMF) Housing Overlay District. The
Board members agreed that they were supportive of reducing challenges to
developing affordable housing, but the mixed-use bonus included in the
MBMF Housing Overlay District is intended to incentivize developers to
provide substantial commercial space that activates the streetscape in
exchange for greater density. The Board discussed that it may be more
appropriate to propose this type of bonus in a future Affordable Housing
Overlay District instead of within the MBMF Housing Overlay District, to
provide flexibility for 100% affordable developments more broadly in the
future. The Board noted that while affordable housing is a Town priority, so
is expanding commercial space, and one should not necessarily be
prioritized over another.
Vote Language:
That no action be taken on Article 57.
Redevelopment Board Report
