My family and I have lived in Belmont since 1979. We’ve been able to move twice in town, improving our housing situation each time. We love the quiet residential streets, the trees and green yards, and the flowers from spring to fall. We love our neighborhood, with different types of housing, owners and renters, young and old, together.
But it’s become very clear that Belmont now faces a stark choice. To preserve not only our green residential spaces but also the diversity of our community, we have to change. We have to grow the local economy to strengthen our tax base and provide ways for people—young and old, owners and renters—to live here.
The way to do this is to revitalize our centers, including Cushing and Waverley squares and Brighton Street, but especially Belmont Center itself. We have to accept increased density, more foot traffic, and even changes in permitted uses in these areas, so that homeowners don’t have to leave town because of the tax burden and the young and old don’t have to move away for housing they can afford.
The proposed zoning changes coming before Town Meeting in March have been in the works for a long time. There’s been extensive input from town committees, consultants, business people, and residents—all open and in public. The Belmont Center Overlay and Center Gateway Overlay will foster mixed-use development and bring new types of businesses to advance our commercial, housing, and revenue goals.
I commend the residents and the town for the long, hard work on these zoning changes. I enthusiastically support them. And I strongly urge you (and your neighbors and friends!) to support them for a better future for Belmont.
Judie Feins, Bay State Road