Medford Holding Public Meeting On Boston Avenue Zoning Proposal

MEDFORD, MA — The city will hold a public information session Monday night on the Boston Avenue zoning proposal, giving residents another chance to weigh in on a broader zoning overhaul that could shape future development along city corridors and neighborhood centers.

The session is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Tufts University’s Breed Memorial Hall on 51 Winthrop St., according to Medford's events calendar. The meeting is listed as part of the city's ongoing zoning update process, which is being managed by City Council leadership, the Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability, the city administration and zoning consultant Innes Associates.

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Medford is comprehensively reviewing and updating its zoning ordinance, which governs what can be built, where it can be built and under what conditions. The city says the process involves squares, major corridors and residential neighborhoods across Medford.

“This process has been years in the making,” the city said in a statement. The proposals are guided by input from thousands of residents through Medford’s Comprehensive Plan, Housing Production Plan and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

The city has framed the zoning work around several goals, including increasing housing supply, reducing emissions, supporting walkable neighborhoods and making it easier to build affordable housing and mixed-use developments.

The proposal, officially listed by the city as the Tufts/Boston Ave Zoning Proposal, focuses on updated zoning for the Boston Avenue corridor around Tufts, including separate proposed zoning maps for the Upper Hillside and South sections. The city’s zoning page also lists a joint meeting of the Medford City Council and Community Development Board for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3.

Medford officials have emphasized that zoning changes do not force immediate construction or redevelopment. Instead, they determine what property owners or developers may do if they decide to build on vacant land or redevelop existing buildings.

“Changing zoning does not mean that changes happen immediately or overnight,” the city said. “Changing zoning means changing what can happen when property owners or developers decide to develop vacant lots or redevelop existing buildings.”

The city is also accepting public comments through its zoning comment form. Residents with questions are directed to contact the Planning Office or City Council leadership.

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