Malden Council refers correction to zoning use table for day cares and similar uses

The Malden City Council on a motion by Councilor Winslow unanimously referred Paper 185-25 to a joint Planning and Rules & Ordinance committee for public hearing.

The measure would amend the city code (Title 12) to update the table of use regulations so they correspond with recently adopted site plan review regulations for day care centers, nonprofit educational facilities and religious facilities. "Our oversight was we did not change the table of uses to reflect that there should be an SPR for those uses," Councilor Winslow said, describing the item as an administrative correction flagged by City Planner Romero.

Councilors said the referral is intended to schedule a public hearing in May and permit further review by the planning committee before final action. No member requested removal from the consent referral and the motion to refer passed by voice vote; the council recorded the referral as unanimous.

The change is procedural: it aligns the city's use table with prior ordinance language that added site plan review requirements. The council did not adopt substantive policy changes tonight; the item will return for a public hearing and additional committee consideration.