In 1857, as it looked to separate from Cambridge, Waltham and Watertown, Belmont’s lack of a commercial center (“village”) was a major issue. More than 160 years later, the town is looking to revitalize its “village” by modernizing its zoning regulations. In this opinion piece, Town Meeting Member Mary Lewis writes that the proposed Belmont Center Overlay will boost local business, provide accessible housing, and improve residents’ quality of life, fostering a vibrant, 21st century community.
In her latest If I May opinion piece, Judith Feinleib calls out the town’s political leadership for what she describes as efforts to dismiss contrary voices and opinions. Feinleib calls on residents to speak up.
Now that Belmont has approved its plan for the State’s MBTA Communities Act, it faces a critical issue: how to increase commercial development even as it obeys the requirements imposed by the state’s one size fits all law.
In a blatant display of the dangers inherent in concentrating power in the executive, the Select Board eliminated hybrid town meetings for both the May and June sessions citing misleading information, and silenced one of its members, writes Town Meeting Member Judith Feinleib.