Waltham Planning Board Defers Housing Zoning Question Pending Legal Review

WALTHAM -- January 7, 2025, Waltham planning board continues housing zoning and driveway permit items to February. The Board of Survey and Planning voted unanimously at its January 7 meeting to defer two substantive agenda items, including a request to submit three proposed zoning districts to the state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for housing choice district eligibility review under MGL Chapter 40A Section 9. The presiding officer said he had referred that matter to the city law department for guidance, citing uncertainty about how the board should proceed; both 1265 Main Street and Boston Properties had submitted letters asking for the same February continuance. A special permit application for four oversized driveway openings at 962 Main Street was also continued to February after the applicant submitted a written request and sent no representative to the meeting. The board approved its November 5 minutes unanimously before adjourning.