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Planning staff briefs board on process to propose zoning amendments, fees and joint hearings
Summary
City planning staff reviewed the process under the Malden zoning ordinance for proposing zoning amendments, who may file amendments, fee requirements for private petitioners, and the joint hearing process with the City Council and planning board.
Planning Department staff provided the Malden Planning Board a refresher Feb. 12 on how zoning amendments are initiated, processed and heard under the city zoning ordinance and state law.
Michelle, Planning Department staff, reviewed ordinance section 12.3205 o and explained that petitions may originate with the City Council, the Zoning Board of Appeal, an individual landowner whose property would be affected, a group of 10 registered voters, the planning board, or a regional planning agency. She explained that the council has 14 days to submit a proposed amendment to the planning board, and that the planning board and city council must hold a joint public hearing within the timeline set by the ordinance (the planning staff cited a 65-day joint-hearing window after receipt). Michelle also noted differences between the city ordinance and state statute — for example, the city requires a joint hearing of council and planning board rather than separate hearings.
Michelle answered board questions about filing logistics and costs. She said an individual petitioner who is not a municipal board pays the filing fee (she said the fee would be $1,000) and covers notice costs; a zoning amendment proposed by the planning board as a body does not require the individual fee. She described typical paths applicants use: work through a city councilor to sponsor an amendment, or if the board supports a change, the planning board can prepare an advisory recommendation that the council may sponsor. Michelle also described the role of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and said MAPC typically does not directly file zoning petitions with the council but often assists in drafting and supporting amendments.
Why it matters: the briefing clarified procedural options for board members or other stakeholders who seek zoning changes — including administrative “clean-up” edits planning staff sometimes drafts and larger policy proposals that typically involve council sponsorship. Board members discussed how to place zoning items on the planning board agenda and noted that the chair controls agenda placement; if a member wants the board to consider a change they should present it to the chair for agenda scheduling and a board vote on whether to forward a proposal to the council.
Board members asked procedural questions about fees, sponsorship and next steps; Michelle recommended working with a council sponsor when possible and offered planning staff assistance drafting amendment language if the board or a council sponsor wishes to proceed.
