[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6332585,"mediaKeyId","2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14","parentId",2306409,"title","Council adopts ordinance creating site-plan review for certain educational, religious and daycare uses","audioSeconds",558,"startMs",8244000,"endMs",8802000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14&start=8244&end=8802","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14/thumbnail_8244000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332585/Malden-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-adopts-ordinance-creating-site-plan-review-for-certain-educational-religious-and-daycare-uses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332585-52972b042aad14f49b0c4f7a30d408d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192994&Signature=fYHZgXRa3ur~A06y~MReud8aE7imoKiGjx4SNUnT2tyVAhYEx4z0348B6qBbz-r00ppkXMXbPlBCeMddaHv7UfTArY67KLYFYImVNrJKOFg5bUGAldSKdFRD3G3dU793AWiUs~GlrJfr3YwRKor9sBMOBsS9ydD3RuvsgJ8YJRLorpMJOlqqb32rC4RJZkY7x9P~aMpTmxmIQV9ewbQZNgJwfIKEcYNyvPNhuaELK0fTO1fPqh5J0IWeCmOqsHAzKnyuL1tXyUXj1~M4~5Us6iqVY~kIpZAGvYcMjCjCBtJCIPdiJBJIk4~k3C-SxpU77uxJ-21xsb4D7AUvzQKVwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Malden City, MA","date","2025-02-13T20:26:46.51Z","article","The Malden City Council on Feb. 4 adopted a zoning ordinance amendment establishing site-plan review for educational, religious and child‑care uses that qualify as Dover‑amendment uses.

The council’s action follows a joint hearing with the planning board and subsequent work in the Rules & Ordinance Committee. The adopted ordinance clarifies which projects must undergo site-plan review and sets procedural rules for the review committee, including committee membership (building commissioner or designee; director of public health or designee; director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development or designee; and a Board of Appeals appointee as needed) and a timeline that requires the site‑plan review committee to provide written recommendations within 65 days of an application. If no action is taken within 65 days, the application will be deemed approved.

The committee and planning-board edits removed language that would have made the site‑plan committee independently decide whether a use qualified under the Dover amendment; that jurisdiction remains with the building commissioner. The committee also clarified quorum and voting rules and removed duplicative conflict‑of‑interest language.

Councilor Winslow, who presented the committee report, summarized the principal changes and said the ordinance was revised to reflect planning-board recommendations about timelines and committee composition. The council adopted the ordinance after a motion to amend the paper per the committee report and then voted to enroll the ordinance.

The new rules are intended to provide a predictable, time‑bounded review path for institutional uses that can affect traffic, parking and neighborhood character, while preserving staff authority to make threshold determinations about Dover amendment applicability.

The roll-call vote to enroll and adopt the ordinance recorded affirmative votes from a majority of councilors; the clerk called the roll as the ordinance was finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Malden City Council 2-11-25","oneSentenceSummary","After committee revisions, the council voted to adopt new site-plan review rules requiring a new review process, membership and 65-day decision timeline for certain Dover‑amendment uses (educational, religious, childcare).","taxTitle","Malden City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",5722,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332589,"Council asks finance, assessor and solicitor to study raising residential tax exemption to 35%",994,4298000,5292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14&start=4298&end=5292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14/thumbnail_4298000.jpg","/articles/6332589/Malden-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-asks-finance-assessor-and-solicitor-to-study-raising-residential-tax-exemption-to-35","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332589-cd19757b3500697e2f56026d2858938a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192994&Signature=X9brCzKx3uzXjpFXoO~TQatlZu6JUEQKej-GCqMy4aCYy6hX~bnutPchhMaUS7gEaXXr4o954zRPfcknvqyie2DCuZdSeNT43lhnFodBoA1XLg461QB----U9xt2T55sX3Ryg~xZEhxdUQ4bsQYzf9xc6uJ68vm5-hPgBlgHnB4Thbne-hom5OAvvipuMd8sqgLifZYUsWsEBQ8Z7ysnabGgRVBjZl1fcmX5AWp2Qjs4JEqfHBAt98N~I83yL3657QVfHx5PZ2j7qE3rHIMugjxktecr2p3~n4ju9KmqzsZCac2CZ~mLDEScBAefY8oxd0sKW1YYfdeMtvks5uNyjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Malden City Council on Feb. 4 approved a resolve requesting the finance committee, city assessor and city solicitor study raising the city’s residential tax exemption from 30% to 35% and the feasibility of expanding related protections for seniors, veterans, widows and residents of qualifying affordable units.

Councilor Spadafore sponsored the resolve and said the goal is to provide tax relief to owner‑occupants such as seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities while the council explores options that could shift tax burdens within the residential class. City Assessor Nathan (Nate) Kramer attended the meeting and explained the residential exemption is a shift within the residential tax class: “We’re collecting the same amount of money. It’s just shifting the burden to those higher value properties,” he said, and he noted the city must analyze distributional impacts before any change.

Councilors agreed to add qualifying deed‑restricted affordable units to the list of potential beneficiaries and to ask the finance committee to prepare an analysis of winners and losers under a 35% exemption scenario. Councilor McDonald reiterated that adopting the exemption does not increase total revenue but shifts which residential owners pay more or less.

The council passed the resolve by unanimous voice vote and asked the finance committee to report back with distributional data, affected-property counts, and any state requirements for exceeding the statutory limits if the council wanted to pursue changes beyond 35% in the future.

The assessor told councilors a prior presentation (fiscal 2021 data) is on the assessor’s website and agreed to provide updated modeling to show who would benefit from a change to 35% and whether the proposed additional categories (veterans, widows, qualifying affordable units) could be implemented under state law.","The council voted unanimously to ask the finance committee, city assessor and city solicitor to study increasing Malden’s residential tax exemption from 30% to the legal maximum of 35% and to explore expanding protections for seniors, veterans, widows and qualifying affordable units.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332594,"Council refers Community Preservation Act appropriations and reappropriation orders to finance committee",505,1046000,1551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14&start=1046&end=1551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14/thumbnail_1046000.jpg","/articles/6332594/Malden-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-refers-Community-Preservation-Act-appropriations-and-reappropriation-orders-to-finance-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332594-a56c21f86278c0fdb36af74196c40a08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192994&Signature=WUMc04aMupFuEl82TRq2UpZv1CD1bBGrmxZly1FSEv7y3JUcVU8zuvNzSz5tm4aQFnHbDEegJXZjEYSe1gR1qPf2TtCp3g6Wo~JVAS8dwOFaLVMr6JqTrZ1lY5yW3PbcFlZZ2VJBK1KjlchZwX02foXyTmt74Iu9rpbuR9C3Fmo0iWXW3M8EX~9bANYOESzCft7-tBorS0vXJLyaosXawETPFiQp8eRzTNoOe7skBqzhMuaD5Nj7wvHnLigNczedWiRb9FwXLcKFKut9iqJgUDfKQNPcUNsuYIwH6bIAg9bEBk3DHlNyHEU3vuOrudJFcxWNStDxRdxPBMwL2s7gDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Malden City Council read a series of Community Preservation Act funding and reappropriation orders on Feb. 4 and unanimously referred them to the finance committee for detailed review.

Highlights included an order reappropriating $1,450,000 to pay the cost of park revitalizations: $450,000 for Deva Park and $1,000,000 for Riverworks Park. The order proposed funding the appropriation from a portion of previously borrowed funds tied to a now-abandoned Roosevelt Park project, citing General Laws chapter 44, section 20.

Councilor Karin McDonald, chair of finance, said the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) annually recommends grants and that the finance committee would schedule a meeting to review the proposals publicly. A group of CPC-related orders was read into the record; the council discussed each briefly and moved them to committee so finance could vet grant details, funding sources and project scopes.

Other Community Preservation Act appropriations presented for referral included:

- Paper 69-25: $319,596 for Debit Park revitalization phase 2 (Open space reserve $94,000; budget reserve $225,596).
- Paper 70-25: $8,000 for Pearl Street Station envelope assessment (historic preservation reserve).
- Paper 71-25: $8,000 for All of the Street Station envelope assessment (historic preservation reserve).
- Paper 72-25: $349,166.52 for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (community housing reserve).
- Paper 73-25: $475,000 for the Forest Hill Cemetery Wall Restoration Project (historic preservation $278,000; budget reserve $197,000).
- Paper 74-25: $14,500 for Saint Paul’s Parish envelope assessment (historic preservation reserve).
- Paper 75-25: $40,000 for housing subsidy for older adults (budgeted reserve).

Councilors emphasized the need to review prior commitments, reallocation mechanics, and neighborhood impacts. Councillor McDonald said the finance committee planned to schedule a meeting the following week to consider the CPC recommendations and the reappropriation request.

The council’s unanimous referral preserves public transparency and moves the appropriation details into the committee process for fiscal analysis and potential modification.","The council read multiple Community Preservation Committee (CPC) appropriation orders—including a $1.45 million reappropriation for park revitalizations—and unanimously referred those orders to the finance committee for detailed review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332599,"Council opens debate on selling surplus city properties for affordable homeownership; amends resolve and refers to joint committees",7776,127000,7903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14&start=127&end=7903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6332599/Malden-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-opens-debate-on-selling-surplus-city-properties-for-affordable-homeownership-amends-resolve-and-refers-to-joint-committees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332599-73ff92c3c58d83dc5a9900570ae1e114/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192994&Signature=U~Z~h237yv6CrfeaEsdavSIibEUEiSV-QAH6nGijJAlJfTsfbzpv~rW0ZdOqFK945V3VOmNTM7S-GRAGkdsLL3iYnL7esTgsGvB1PqvNrbxEiLvYStPsM5rqcXPZZtnP10p8qH33Enwn71CK0Fz8PgXIGsj48eNi9sZg~DifX8ughuleF3--qC~TEGzKIWNsosa6Ro3XEkmoogrm8ghFF4VcgPlBhErhzQZOahHZtL3NxEXRbfeGd41N-vLNk5kApTrHlI3zQYQJp~VJJaPTnJ1jXF7hZSeD8i2-pBa30ZfqgUoQeZ9J2u-HjGqjJVgRvvdUxfpCnWPyB8zkg8aUbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Malden City Council debated whether to investigate selling surplus city property to create affordable homeownership opportunities, amending the original proposal to remove two specific buildings and referring the matter to joint committees for further study.

The resolution—introduced by Councillor Spadafore—originally named the Malden Courthouse and the Oak Grove Community Building as potential surplus sites. Several speakers urged preserving those properties for arts, culture and community uses. Tina Lagarde, executive director of Urban Media Arts, told the council the courthouse carries legal use restrictions and a community arts redevelopment plan: “Selling the courthouse would permanently eliminate the potential for this transformative initiative,” she said, and cited a state bill she said restricted the site’s use to nonprofit recreational, educational or community purposes.

Multiple written submissions and public-comment letters opposed sale of the Oak Grove Community Building. Carol Melly, representing Oak Grove Improvement Association, described the building’s civic history and said the group is pursuing community preservation grants to restore and reopen it. Written comments from residents and groups called for more community engagement before any sale.

Councillors debated competing priorities. Councillor Spadafore said the city faces budget pressure and a housing shortage and argued the underused properties are transit‑oriented sites that could house families rather than remain vacant. Councillor Linehan and others urged a broader, citywide conversation about affordable housing and argued the city should not foreclose reuse options without public input and planning board review. Councillor McDonald emphasized the possibility of phased approaches and additional sites.

Councilors voted 8–2 to amend the resolve by striking references to the Malden Courthouse and the Oak Grove Community Building and later voted to refer the amended resolve to a joint meeting of the Community Engagement & Inclusion Committee and the Public Properties Committee for further study and public outreach.

The referral is intended to produce a public process to evaluate surplus city parcels, funding options, legal restrictions and potential community benefits before any sale or redevelopment decision.

Next steps: the joint committee(s) will schedule public meetings to gather community input and report back to the full council with findings and recommendations.","A council resolution urging study of selling surplus Malden properties for affordable homeownership prompted lengthy debate. After public comments and a council amendment removing two named buildings, the council voted to send the matter to a joint Community Engagement and Public Properties committee.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332602,"Malden council approves amended special permit for Trinity Naturals at 36 Charles St., 10-0",1976,1644000,3620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14&start=1644&end=3620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2306409-b41b3826c2ac7020ccf8e1b4ca8ace14/thumbnail_1644000.jpg","/articles/6332602/Malden-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Malden-council-approves-amended-special-permit-for-Trinity-Naturals-at-36-Charles-St-10-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332602-1d488b4e5e48ea8772ce4aa6e05576f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192994&Signature=aa90KGn6EnVHlNJHfHI13Wc0o~ZY9pRyeFtXoBfr8ZzuWkOBPeFfik0ZdmY~tq0wpjDddqYAecXm2LS~GObwFEmX~1AemiUUNeRhZldcM9IV3yzDFS6xnwNAPf2bI~u9qTSM4H4vISn1Zp8hzJ~FGj9kGBpn~E4UeY1OmxrzFdXSNMpUfVfPkdFT7Msr7HQBkwdod~NQnI6K85Whs~QceafpDZEQ6f8-mKSZUMkP~~RNx-latXNPj3pb4cNkv8wz821CGX2F-RosCNQwI-BC8Ql9lCD8xiDldijqqqSBWhcvlNigTYVC6-WYsSpWV3rqPTDIqmEx16FQGOgd8hbxFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Malden City Council on Feb. 4 unanimously approved an amendment to the special permit for a retail marijuana business at 36 Charles St., allowing a revised floor plan that increases the size of the premises and a storage vault, the council recorded in a 10-0 roll-call vote.

The approval followed a public hearing in which the petitioners acknowledged construction proceeded before a required amendment was filed and apologized. Attorney Roberto DeMarco, representing DMS Trinity LLC d/b/a Trinity Naturals, said, “We made the error. We take full responsibility for that error,” and asked the council to accept the amendment so the project could proceed.

The council’s vote adopts the planning board’s recommendation and its conditions. The planning board had recommended approval subject to 20 conditions; DeMarco told the council his client did not contest those conditions and considered them reasonable. The council also discussed parking arrangements, security, and a potential bike-path connection through or adjacent to the site.

During the hearing, DeMarco described operational practices at Trinity’s Chelsea location to explain traffic expectations and security measures. He said the Chelsea store, which has operated about a year, “has never had more than 9 spots taken up,” characterizing the business as largely “in and out.” He also said the applicant proposed purchasing two-hour parking permits at a nearby CBD garage and had been pursuing other parking options.

Several councilors pressed the applicants on community engagement for the bike-path connection and public access. Councillor Peg Crowe, the ward councillor for the area, said she supports the permit because the vault enlargement improves safety but asked for fuller discussion and participation by the ward councillor on any bike-path plans. DeMarco and a representative said they were willing to work with the city and to develop a memorandum of understanding with Councillor Crowe.

The council also heard written opposition from nearby property owners and a representative of Stop & Shop raising concerns about parking and prior deviations from special-permit conditions; the clerk read those comments into the record. The council required applicants to comply with conditions set by the planning board and emphasized continued coordination with city departments and neighborhood representatives.

At the council’s request, DeMarco and operators present explained ownership structure and funding: outside lenders provided loans but were not owners and do not hold ownership rights. DeMarco said loan investors would have only repayment rights and not a licensee status under the state cannabis regulations.

The council’s roll call on the final motion—“approve the special permit amendment as presented and adopt the planning board’s conditions”—recorded affirmative votes from Councilors Colon Hayes, Condon, Crow, Linehan, McDonald, Simonelli, Spadafore, Taylor, Winslow and Council President O’Malley.

The applicants said they hope to open in the spring, contingent on completing the outstanding state and local steps including the community host agreement and any additional hearings required by state regulators.

Votes at a glance: approve amendment to special permit CMID 040598-2021 for 36 Charles St.; recorded 10–0 in favor.","After a public hearing and questions about parking and security, the Malden City Council unanimously approved an amended special permit to revise the floor plan for Trinity Naturals (36 Charles St.), including an enlarged vault and conditions recommended by the planning board.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts ordinance creating site-plan review for certain educational, religious and daycare uses

Council asks finance, assessor and solicitor to study raising residential tax exemption to 35%

Council refers Community Preservation Act appropriations and reappropriation orders to finance committee

Council opens debate on selling surplus city properties for affordable homeownership; amends resolve and refers to joint committees

Malden council approves amended special permit for Trinity Naturals at 36 Charles St., 10-0