Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 13, 2026 ZONING | FROM PAGE 1 at future meetings. Led by Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe, committee Chairperson Stephen Winslow (Ward 6) and other Council members, details of the zoning framework were painstakingly debated in many hours of Council Rules & Ordinance Committee work, then on the Council floor. The Rules & Ordinance Committee Vice Chair is Councillor-at-large Karen Colón Hayes and members include Council President Amanda Linehan (Ward 3) and Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley. Key outcomes in a series of votes at the last meeting of October dealt with the 2021 inclusionary zoning package; one major change lowered the city building mandate for new construction affordable housing of eight units or more from 15% to 10%. Also voted by the Council was an increase of income eligibility for rental units from 50% to 60% of median income. This was intended to provide more revenue per unit for developers. Commercial zoning updates intended to spur economic development across the community, which would make it easier for startups of more than a dozen types of businesses, was also approved. In another vote, transferring reviews of inclusionary zoning compliance to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) from the Malden Planning Board was okayed by the Council. Councillor-at-Large Carey McDonald spoke in favor of the change in affordable housing percentage. “It doesn’t matter how high the percentage is if it doesn’t actually succeed in getting units built.” The ordinance changes were enrolled on a 9–1 vote. Voting in favor were Councillors Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Paul Condon (Ward 2), Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4), Ari Taylor (Ward 5), Stephen Winslow (Ward 6), Karen Colón Hayes (at-Large) and Carey McDonald (at-Large). Voting in opposition was Jadeane Sica (Ward 8), who did not back the lower parking ratio to units constructed. A future vote on a proposed www.cityofmalden.org Gary Christenson, Mayor Community Preservation Committee Agenda ordinance change would establish incentives intended to assist developers in lowering the cost of building/adding affordable housing units. It would apply to all mixed rate developments (affordable housing and market rate units) but not including fully affordable projects. Some of the developers’ inWednesday, November 18, 2026 6:00PM Hybrid Monthly Meeting & Public Hearing Live-streamed via Teams: Meeting ID: 297 275 849 989 864 7 Passcode: iG3wF7M4 In Person: City Hall Room #105 215 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148 Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2972758499898647?p=3ddAXfr8IRbJIMrWLV If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000, Ext 2005 CPC Public Hearing and Meeting Agenda 1. Call to order/ Roll call 2. Public Hearing on FY27 Historic Preservation and Open Space and Recreation Applications a. 0040_Amerige Field Rehabilitation b. 0041_Florence Street Pocket Park Rehabilitation c. 0042_First Parish in Malden Restoration 3. Approval of CPC Monthly Meeting minutes from October 21, 2026 4. Status Update on Ongoing Projects 5. Other Business 6. Adjournment of CPC Monthly Meeting 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 | Phone: 781-397-7000 Ext. 2001 | info@cityofmalden.org Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma November 06, 13, 2026 centives in the new proposed ordinance: —Parking restrictions: Instead of bedroom number parking percentages, per-unit minimums to encourage family housing with two or three bedrooms would be used with 1.1 parking spaces per unit for market-rate units and .75 spaces per unit for affordable units. — Developer density bonus: An increase of one unit from the previous 2021 number; for every required affordable unit built in an inclusionary zoning development, developers can build two additional market-rate units. For 100% affordable projects, an additional story not to exceed 11 feet is allowed by special permit. The council also furthered some zoning changes intended to make for easier permit procedures for a number of business types, such as medical centers, non-fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, body art, licensed massage therapy, adult day care, kennels, research and development, and towing. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper
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