Belmont has received word the Belmont Center Overlay and its companion Center Overlay District have cleared the final administrative hurdle.
“I’m extremely happy to clear this final administrative hurdle, and that the Attorney General affirmed the expertise of the Planning Board and Office of Planning and Building, and the overwhelming vote of Town Meeting,” said Select Board Chair Taylor Yates. “We’ve worked hard to put great people in a great position to do great things, and this is the fruit of that labor. I look forward to continued reform.”
The state’s Attorney General’s office gave final approval to the articles, which were passed at a special Town Meeting in March. The announcement came on Friday, Aug. 14.
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“We approve Articles 2 and 3, and the map amendments adopted under them, from the Belmont March 4, 2026, Special Town Meeting, because they do not conflict with state law,” the approval reads.
The Belmont Center Overlay allows a base building height of 2 1⁄2 stories, with a maximum of 3 1⁄2 stories on the northwest side of Leonard Street, where Bellmont Cafe and Il Casale are, according to planning documents. On the southeast side, which includes CVS and The Toy Shop, the change would allow buildings with a base of 3 stories, with a maximum of 4 stories. A portion of Claflin Street and Concord Avenue will allow for a maximum of 5 stories.
The overlay passed 165-87 with 10 abstentions.
A few nights later, Town Meeting members approved the Center Gateway district. Because the Gateway District does not include a residential requirement, it needed a two-thirds majority, which it achieved 196-52 with six abstentions.
With the change, three parcels on Concord Avenue, 365, 375 and 385 can be redeveloped as a hotel up to five stories with 150 rooms. A consultant determined Belmont can support a hotel up to 155 rooms.
The town can begin taking applications for projects under the Center Overlay on Nov. 1.