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Council adopts Mystic Avenue Corridor zoning changes after community development board tweaks
Summary
After a continued public hearing and public comment, the Medford City Council adopted Community Development Board-recommended edits to the Mystic Avenue Corridor District zoning, including clarified incentive tables, changes to green-building language and a dimensional-waiver path for special projects.
The council on Dec. 17 adopted amendments to the Mystic Avenue Corridor District zoning recommended by the Community Development Board and city planning staff. The changes reorganize development incentives into a table format for clarity, refine language about green-building incentives (keeping higher incentives for LEED-Platinum-level performance while removing a bonus for items now required by code), and allow the CD board limited discretion to waive some minimum height requirements for projects that meet district goals.
Councilors and planning staff stressed outreach and clearer public notices to make the multi-step zoning referral process more legible to residents. Public commenters and the Medford Chamber highlighted competing priorities: more commercial tax base and pedestrian improvements versus worries about parking and the residential/commercial mix. Councilor Collins moved adoption of the CD board recommendations, and the motion carried with one dissenter.
What happens next: The ordinance is final for this corridor after the council vote; similar zoning work on other corridors (Salem Street) was referred to the Community Development Board for public hearings.
