Waltham residents urge zoning overhaul to allow more housing, cut parking mandates and boost affordability

At a June 5 special meeting of the Waltham City Council, residents and local advocates told councilors they want a comprehensive rewrite of the city's zoning code to allow more housing, reduce parking mandates and create dependable funding for affordable units.

Speakers said the current code prevents rebuilding of existing homes and blocks smaller, more affordable units. "Up to 72% of the city's homes don't conform with the present zoning code," said Mitchell DePani, summarizing a point many speakers repeated. Genevieve Tavera, who said she has worked with Waltham families for more than a decade, called the figure "a shocking number" and said the city has produced no affordable units under the current zoning since 2020.

Why it matters: residents and some local planners argue the rules shape who can live in Waltham and how the city grows. Several speakers urged a shift from strict Euclidean zoning toward form-based or neighborhood-focused rules, and asked the council to use tools such as linkage fees, density bonuses and targeted…