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Council continues Salem Street zoning hearing after residents criticize outreach; motion to delay fails
Summary
After an extended public Q&A and critical public testimony about outreach, the Medford City Council continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Salem Street neighborhood corridor zoning to March 11; a councilor’s motion to postpone the process for additional neighborhood meetings failed for lack of a second.
The Medford City Council continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 94 (Salem Street neighborhood corridor district) to its March 11 meeting after a lengthy public question-and-answer session, but a formal motion to delay the zoning process for more neighborhood meetings failed for lack of a second.
Councilor Collins moved to continue the hearing to March 11; the council approved the continuance by roll call (Councilor Callahan, Vice President Collins, Councilor Lozaro, Councilor Lemming, Councilor Scarpelli, Councilor Singh and President Bares all recorded “Yes” when the clerk called the roll). The Community Development Board is scheduled to meet on March 5; councilors said they expect CDB recommendations to inform council action on March 11.
The meeting included extended public comment and criticism of the city’s outreach. Speakers including Cheryl Rodriguez and Zachary Chertok said neighbors frequently did not receive notice of meetings and described standard presentation materials as insufficiently detailed for residents to understand rezoning impacts. Several residents urged the council to pause the Salem Street work and return to more neighborhood-centered meetings.
Councilor Scarpelli offered a B paper motion to delay the Salem Street project until additional neighborhood meetings were held; the motion received no second and therefore failed. Councilors who support continuing the process said they are expanding outreach: staff and the zoning consultant Innis Associates will produce simpler summaries, bullet points, diagrams and short explainer videos for each zoning topic, increase Q&A sessions and post clearer FAQs on the zoning web pages.
Councilors noted the consultant’s contract sets a timeline for completing the project and that consultants are limited in available hours; several said they would support continuing the public hearing beyond March 11 if the Community Development Board requests more time. The council also received and placed on file planning and permitting committee reports and agreed to continue the zoning public hearing rather than voting on the amendments at this meeting.
