Let me explain what has happened… no, there is too much, let me sum up. The Working Group is done; now the ARB is writing the actual warrant articles in the next two weeks to submit to Special Town Meeting. There is very little chance for the average citizen to make substantiative changes at this point, without understanding how warrant motions work at STM.
What’s Happening Now?
The ARB met recently Monday 18-September to continue updating their warrant articles. This page will be updated once meeting minutes or other reports are available.
ARB meets again Monday 2-October to make any final adjustments or recommendations on any zoning articles to be submitted to STM. Once their and any other town board recommendations are ready, the official warrant will be posted.
After that, it’s up to Town Meeting Members to propose whatever other substitute or similar motions for submitted warrant articles.
Special Town Meeting starts 17-October, and given the number of articles and passion about these issues, will likely take several sessions. Town Meeting members will have a chance to vote on all warrant articles, however history shows that articles with town board approvals (from Select board or ARB) will often be passed.
The ARB Is Writing Multiple Zoning Warrant Articles
After the ARB’s 11-Sep giant meeting to review the WG report and deal with public comment, the ARB and (presumably) the town planning department have been busy writing individual draft warrant articles for STM. The Working Group could only recommend plans; what actually appears before STM is up to the ARB to write. Much of this process will be done by the ARB itself with limited public comment. Those familiar with Town Meeting procedures will obviously have opportunities to try submitting substitute motions or the like later.
ARB Draft Zoning Articles
Warrant Article A - Multi-Family Residential Overlay Districts
This file 230906_MBTAC_zoning_articl.pdf is currently identical to the WG’s recommended bylaw changes edited 6-Sep, although the filename has changed. However this does not specify which alternative map version from the WG is being used.
Download the full text of Warrant Articles B-J - Business Districts 20230918 2023 Fall TM zoni.pdf
ARTICLE B ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ OPEN SPACE IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 2 DEFINITIONS, Section 5.3.21 SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, Section 5.3.22 GROSS FLOOR AREA, and Section 5.5.2 DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY REQUIREMENTS to modify the requirements for landscaped and usable open space in the Business Zoning Districts;…
ARTICLE C ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ REAR YARD SETBACKS IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 5.5.2. DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY REQUIREMENTS to reduce the rear yard setback or to allow for a variable rear yard setback and establish the criteria for such requirements for any use in the Business Districts;…
ARTICLE D ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ STEP BACK REQUIREMENTS IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 2 DEFINITIONS and Section 5 DISTRICT REGULATIONS to clarify and adjust the upper-story building step back to begin at a higher story, clarify the measurement shall be from the principal property line, specify the applicable façades of a building for which the step back is required, and allow for an exemption for smaller parcels for buildings subject to Environmental Design Review with certain exceptions;…
ARTICLE E ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ REDUCED HEIGHT BUFFER AREA
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 5.5.2. DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY REQUIREMENTS to reduce the rear yard setback or to allow for a variable rear yard setback and establish the criteria for such requirements for any use in the Business Districts;…
ARTICLE F ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/CORNER LOT REQUIREMENTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.3.8 CORNER LOTS AND THROUGH LOTS to amend the requirement for corner lots in all Business Districts which requires the minimum street yard to be equal to the required front yard depth;…
ARTICLE G ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / HEIGHT AND STORY MINIMUMS IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.5.2 DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY REGULATIONS to add a requirement for a minimum height and number of stories in all Business Districts with exceptions;…
ARTICLE H ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to make the following administrative correction: Amend Section 5.9.2.C.(4), Accessory Dwelling Units Administration, to correct a reference it makes to a re-lettered subsection of Section 8.1.3;…
ARTICLE I ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / RESIDENTIAL USES IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS
To see if the Town will vote to amend the zoning bylaw to alter the use categories of a residential single family home, duplex, or two family home in any of the Business Districts;…
ARTICLE J ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / STREET TREES
To see if the Town will vote to amend the zoning bylaw to require a street tree to be planted for every 25 feet of street frontage for all developments;…
Confused? Read This Simple Explainer
Resident Gina Sonder has written a simple essay on what the MBTA Communities law is about, and briefly how Arlington is dealing with it.
Full MBTA Issues List
See my comprehensive list of all MBTA Communities Working Group materials, notes, maps, and news reports.