Hotels, Motels In Malden: Zoning Change Discussed Next Week

The Malden Planning Board and Malden City Council Ordinance Committee will meet next week to discuss eight different zoning changes. A joint public hearing will be held in the Senior Community Center's first-floor auditorium on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.

A public hearing allows the public to comment if they are 'for' or 'against' any proposal. It is one of the few times the Malden public can speak on city matters in an official setting. The Planning Board will make recommendations to the City Council for future acceptance or rejection.

You can see the event and full agenda here.

Part 1 of 8 agenda item is:

I. Section 300.3 Use Regulations for Hotels & Motels (CCP 461/2017)

OVERVIEW:

Currently, motels and hotels can be built by right in Malden Square and 11 neighborhood-like centers including Edgeworth, Bell Rock, Maplewood, Linden etc. If all requirements are met; like lot size , parking spaces etc, a motel and/or hotel can open without neighborhood or city input.

They are proposing we not allow motels or hotels at all in Maplewood or Linden-like squares, and anybody who wants to build a motel or hotel in Malden Square, will be required to have a public hearing to hear from the neighbors and public.

VIDEOS:

See the ordinance being first introduced and some discussion by the City Council (3 minutes):

17-Nov-14 City Council meeting video for CCP 461-2017 motel hotel - introduction

See the ordinance brought up again, but for parliamentary procedure and no further explanation of actual ordinance (3 minutes):

17-Nov-21 City Council meeting video for CCP 461-2017 motel hotel - parliamentary

Question: Will you speak 'for' or 'against' the new motel and/or hotel use regulation?

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BACKGROUND:

The existing ordinance for 300.3.4.6 Motel-Hotel, marked up with the text described in the new proposal CCP 461-2017, will give you a table like below to be voted on:

The change being suggested is for Motel-Hotels to no longer be allowed by right in Zones BC and BH.

In BC it will only be allowed by Special Permit

In BH it will no longer be allowed at all.

What do the Different Zone designation BC and BH mean? What does Special Permit mean?

Zoning designations 'districts' can be found in the City Ordinances 200.1

And the Zoning Map 200.2 gives access to the Zoning Map

BC is Central Business and is generally described as Malden Square. See below map of BC and any portion indicated as yellow, is the BC zoning district.

This zone would only allow Motel-Hotel as a Special Permit, which means it is not allowed by right, but would still require a public hearing, which allows public input.

BH is Neighborhood Business, which includes 11 districts that residents generally associated with squares, such as Oak Grove, Bell Rock, Maplewood and Linden. See zoning map linked above and look for the gold solid districts.

Why would you speak 'for' the new motel and/or hotel use regulation?

Why would you speak 'against' the new motel and/or hotel use regulation?