Waltham Council Advances $10.5 Million Police Station Design Loan on First Reading

WALTHAM -- April 13, 2026, Waltham City Council gave first-reading approval to a $10,536,466 loan for police station design at 155 Lexington Street and cleared $55,000 for a zoning update consultant at its April 13 meeting. Councillor Katz, chair of the Finance Committee, moved without committee reference on both the zoning funds and a $35,000 fire safety equipment grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the grant requiring Councillor King to recuse himself. City Solicitor Katherine Laughman, called to the floor by motion, told the council that the zoning consultant has been instructed to deliver work product by May to meet a June 2026 deadline for potential advertising of overlay district amendments. The council also held three joint public hearings with the Board of Survey and Planning on proposed zoning changes, including a tiered affordable housing inclusionary requirement and a new pet grooming business use definition, referring all three to the Ordinances and Rules Committee, with the Board of Survey and Planning set to meet on all matters May 6. The session ended with a 15-0 vote to enter executive session with Mayor McCarthy to discuss real estate strategy.