At its Nov. 18 meeting the Chelsea City Council advanced several zoning, housing and infrastructure items. The administration asked the council to refer a proposed industrial‑district zoning amendment that would allow fish and seafood processing by special permit. The proposal is intended to attract a meat/seafood processor planning to relocate to Chelsea and to bring an estimated 150 jobs to the city, with possible growth to more than 200 jobs within a year.

The council also received a communication and referred proposed local zoning changes to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single‑family districts to implement the state Affordable Homes Act. Council leadership asked the planning board to hold a public hearing on the ADU changes.

Separately, the council accepted an MWRA lead‑replacement financing opportunity discussed in the Ways & Means committee: the MWRA is offering a mix of grant and interest‑free loan options for a $600,000 borrowing authorization. Councilor(s) explained the program covers replacement of the service between the main and the meter only, not in‑home plumbing.

The council received a draft FY2026 capital improvement plan and heard requests to refer a proposed local ordinance requiring property‑management companies to obtain a city license and undergo annual performance review; that ordinance was referred to the housing subcommittee and councilors asked the city solicitor to circulate the draft language to members in advance.

Other items included smaller prior‑year payment approvals and orders asking the city manager to increase enforcement of the city's plastic‑bag ban and to review shared‑lane signage on Everett Avenue and Third Street. The council also referred an update to bicycle regulations (to include electric scooters) to the parking and traffic commission for review.

Votes taken at the meeting included approval of an appointment to the Community Recreation Advisory Board and adoption of several budget‑management orders; roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes.