City of Melrose - Office of Planning and Community Development

City of Melrose

Office of Planning and Community Development

Denise M. Gaffey
Director and City Planner
(781) 979-4190

Links:

Affordable Housing

Mission Statement Zoning Planning Board

Introduction to Melrose Subdivision Regulations Historic District Commission

Planning for the Future School Building Program Community Development Council

Master Plan Community Development   Forms and Applications

Previous Planning Efforts Capital Improvement Program
FY O8 Capitol Improvement Program
Planning Board Agenda & Meeting Minutes

Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps Available for Viewing

2007 Open Space and Recreational Plan

Staff

Director and City Planner
Denise Gaffey

dgaffey@cityofmelrose.org

Assistant Planner
Matthew Hennigan

mhennigan@cityofmelrose.org

Housing Planner
Holly Regan

hregan@cityofmelrose.org

Secretary
Janet Graf

jgraf@cityofmelrose.org

Accounting Manager and Financial Analyst
Jane Pitts

jpitts@cityofmelrose.org

Contact Information:
City Hall
562 Main Street
Second Floor
Melrose, MA 02176

Phone: 781-979-4190
Fax: 781-979-4290
OPCD@cityofmelrose.org

Hours of Operation:
The Office is open in conjunction with City Hall Hours:
8:30AM-4:00PM Monday-Thursday
8:30AM-12:30PM Fridays
Staff may also be reached by phone on Friday afternoons.

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Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) to protect and enhance the quality of life in Melrose . To accomplish this mission OPCD provides long range planning, manages the capital improvement program, reviews and recommends changes in zoning, applies for and administers grants and community development programs and implements special projects. Additionally, OPCD supports the work of several Boards and Commissions in the City and reviews all major land use proposals, including subdivision plans and significant residential and commercial development proposals.

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Introduction to Melrose

Melrose is primarily a residential community, whose development started in the mid 1800s as a result of the completion of the Boston & Maine Railroad which made Melrose easily accessible from Boston . In the late 1800s many Victorian homes were built and the 1920s and 1930s saw construction of many homes as well. Currently over 86% of developed land (and 56% of all land) in Melrose is used for residential purposes.

Melrose has a central downtown business area and three neighborhood commercial areas clustered around the three commuter rail stations. There are two industrial and service commercial areas in Melrose ; one on Route 99 and the other is an area on Tremont Street . Commercial and industrial areas comprise 7% of developed land (5% of all land).

Melrose is a short 13 minute commuter train ride to Boston and is only 7 miles from Logan airport. Melrose is a "Garden City" with a "greenbelt" that separates it from other communities. This greenbelt includes several recreation resources including the Middlesex Fells Reservation, Pine Banks Park , Mt. Hood Memorial Park and Golf Course, Bellevue Country Club, and the Conservation areas around and including Towners and Swains Ponds. Open space and recreation areas in the City comprise 27% of all land in Melrose .

Although there is little available land for new residential subdivisions the City continues to see redevelopment activities in the downtown and other commercial areas. In the past three years, the Planning Board has reviewed and permitted two significant redevelopment proposals: Oak Grove Village , a mixed-use residential community to be built on 15 acres located on the Melrose/Malden border and Station Crossing, a 48-unit Condominium building currently being built on Willow Street , the former site of Melrose Bowl.

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Planning for the Future

The Melrose Master Plan
(click here to download the Master Plan)

The City of Melrose seeks to maintain its position as a family oriented community with a high quality of life for its residents, a stable and diverse mix of commercial services, and numerous cultural and recreational opportunities. The Master Plan creates a framework through which the community’s unique character will be promoted and preserved.

–Vision statement of the Melrose Master Plan.

The Melrose Master Plan is a tool to guide City officials and residents as they work to anticipate and prepare for future challenges, shape areas with the potential for change, identify ways to improve the community, and protect and enhance the unique character of Melrose . The Master Plan focuses on physical aspects of the city, takes a long-range perspective, and emphasizes strategies and implementation. The Master Plan is a living document, which should be used as a springboard for dialogue, planning, and action and should be revised and updated on a regular basis.

The Master Plan provides useful data on Melrose ’s demographic makeup, land use profile, economic situation, and predicted future trends in these three areas. It highlights the community’s goals for the future and it provides specific strategies to reach these goals.

The Melrose Master Plan was most recently revised in 2004. The Master Plan Advisory Committee wrote the Melrose Master Plan 2004, adopted by the Planning Board in June of 2004, with assistance from Taintor Associates, a consultant retained by OPCD through the state Executive Order 418 program. The Committee Members, who were appointed by the Mayor, represent diverse sectors and interests of our community, including the environment, historic resources, affordable housing, schools, and the business community.

Melrose Master Plan Committee Membership:

Community Representatives
Peter Bowman, Chair
Alderman Gail Infurna
Charlene Weekley
Anne DeSouza-Ward
Steve Gould
Joan Cassidy
Dr. Jane Desforges
Philip Kukura
Andrew Gallup
Mike Henry

City Representatives
Mayor Robert J. Dolan
Denise Gaffey , Director, OPCD
Jack Beckley, Director, Council on Aging
Holly Killmer Regan, Assistant Planner

The Mayor strongly endorses the Master Plan and work toward implementing the strategies identified in the plan is underway. Planning for Melrose ’s future is an important and rewarding task in which all members of the community have a role.

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Previous Planning Efforts

In 2000, OPCD updated the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. This effort provided a five-year plan for improvements to the City's park system and was incorporated into the new Master Plan. The previous version of the open space plan resulted in a new successful model for the management and operation of the Mt. Hood Memorial Park and Golf Course as well as an overall Master Plan for improvements at Mt. Hood . The Mt. Hood Master Plan was the impetus for a $2 million improvement project completed in the mid-90’s, which included $1 million in funding from the State’s Urban Self Help Grant program. An effort was recently initiated to update the Melrose Open Space and Recreation Plan. A revised Plan is expected to be submitted to the state in 2005.

In late 1997, OPCD took on the responsibility for the School Building Program and for implementing the School Facilities Master Plan, which was originally approved in 1997. OPCD managed design and construction of the new Lincoln School , which opened in September 2000 and the new Roosevelt School , which opened in September 2002. Each of these projects will receive state reimbursement of 67% of the costs including interest on the bonds being used to pay for the project. OPCD is currently coordinating design and construction of the new Middle School.

In 1996, OPCD completed a Police and Fire Station Facilities Plan and assisted in the development of a MIS/GIS plan for the networking of the City’s computers. OPCD also assisted in the Schools Technology Plan, which was completed and approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education in spring 1996. Based on the Technology Plan the Schools received grant funding from the state in spring 1997. The Technology Plan efforts are being guided by the School’s Technology Council.

In 1995, OPCD completed master plans for Memorial Hall and Ell Pond and was responsible for the design and construction of the Milano Senior Center. OPCD has been responsible for implementing the Memorial Hall Master Plan and oversaw the construction of four phases of preservation work, totaling 1.2 million.

In 1993, OPCD prepared the Blueprint for Melrose 1993-1995. The Blueprint for Melrose was a working plan for the management and operation of the City of Melrose. It was based on input from all of the City departments. Much of this plan was implemented including an array of new management approaches that make City services more efficient, development of a five year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) several projects of which are well underway, implementation of a sewer and water enterprise fund, and several privatization initiatives.

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Zoning
(click here to download the Melrose Zoning Ordinance and Map)

In 1926, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of zoning, ruling it appropriate to limit an individual’s property rights in the best interest of the general public. In Massachusetts, zoning is authorized through the Mass General Laws, Chapter 40A. In Melrose, the Zoning Ordinance describes the rules and regulations regarding how land is developed locally.

Parties building or renovating a structure or changing an element of a lot should consult the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that the project complies with the City’s rules and regulations. When a proposed project does not comply with the Zoning Ordinance, the party has the option to seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals that would allow the petitioner to build out of compliance with the Zoning Ordinance. Some types of building projects require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board . The Zoning Ordinance explains in what cases a special permit is required, what requirements must be met to be eligible for a special permit, and the process of applying for a special permit.

The recently revised Master Plan, approved in June of 2004, recommends several changes and additions to the Melrose Zoning Ordinance in order to provide the City with more tools to guide development in a manner that protects and enhances the resources of Melrose . Recent zoning amendment actions include the following:

Affordable Housing Incentive Zoning Special Permit—Residential developments of five or more units are required to provide 10% of the total number of units as affordable. In return, developers are allowed to increase the density of the development by the number of affordable units required as appropriate. The purpose of this ordinance is to help develop affordable housing options to meet the diverse housing needs of Melrose ’s community members.

Site Plan Review—All new industrial or commercial uses, new residential developments of four or more, extensions in excess of 2,500 sq. ft. of an existing industrial, commercial, or multi-family use, or the construction or expansion of a parking lot for a municipal, institutional, commercial, industrial, or multi-family structure or purpose requires a review by the Planning Board to ensure that the proposal meets the City’s standards and character.

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Amendment to Pavement Zoning

Subdivision Regulations

The Planning Board is the body responsible for administering the subdivision regulations. Any party considering subdividing land into lots which do not have adequate frontage must apply to the Planning Board for approval. The Planning Board , with assistance from OPCD staff, review subdivision proposals to ensure they meet the City and State requirements and fit well with the character of Melrose. A copy of the Subdivision Regulations may be purchased at the Office of Planning and Community Development in City Hall.

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School Building Program

In December 1997, OPCD took on the responsibility for the School Building Program and implementing the Melrose Schools Facilities Master Plan. New school building projects include the Lincoln Elementary School , which opened in 2000 and the new Roosevelt Elementary School , which opened in 2002. and the new Veterans Memorial Middle School, which opened in in 2007.

The Melrose School Building Committee oversees the design and construction of the new Middle School. The Committee consists of volunteer community members and City officials, including the following members:

John McLaughlin, Jr., Chair, McLaughlin Insurance
Mayor Robert J. Dolan
Ira Baline, Architect, Bergmeyer
Tom Brow, Principal, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School
Mike Cassavoy, Engineer, Edwards & Kelcey
Katherine Clark, School Committee
Trudy Dooner, Principal, Lincoln School
George Doyle, Alderman
Denise Gaffey , OPCD Director
Joe Huggins, School Facilities Director
Gail Infurna , Alderman
Dr. Rosemary Leblanc-Considine, Superintendent
Bill Mack, Shawmut Construction
Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis, School Committee
Joe Nevin, Architect, Bergmeyer
Paul Ormond, Engineer, Haley & Aldrich
Helen Overlan, Principal, Roosevelt
Michael Santos, Alderman

Middle School Slide Show

The new Middle School opened in September 2007. Design for the new Middle School began in earnest in March of 2004 following a successful debt exclusion vote the proceeding fall. Tappe Associates, the Architect for the Roosevelt School and for earlier design work on the Middle School, was selected to design the new building. The new building is 220,000 square feet and four stories to accommodate three teams in the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades. This new facility also contains state-of-the-art smart board technology in every classroom, a 900 seat auditorium and a multi-court gymnasium.

Roosevelt School

The new Roosevelt School opened in September 2002. The complete demolition of the old structure and construction of a 69,500 square foot building was completed over an 18-month period. The new facility contains state-of-the-art education technology available to all students, including computers and television monitors in each classroom with cable TV and Internet access. This $11.8 million project also contains additional classrooms for music, art, and physical/occupational therapy, and a regulation, full sized, 7,000 square foot gymnasium.

Lincoln School

The new Lincoln School facility was completed in September 2000. The facility is a combination of a complete renovation of the 21,000 square foot original building built in 1896 and a new 44,000 square foot addition to the rear. This $10.3 million project includes 18 classrooms, gymnasium, cafetorium with a stage, library media center, computer lab, art room, and a music room. State of the art educational technology was included as part of the project.

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Community Development

·         Sign and Façade Grant Program—OPCD provides grants to business applicants for up to 50% of the cost of attractive business signs and façade improvement. The maximum grant is $1,000 for a sign and $500 for a façade improvement. In fiscal year 2004, OPCD approved 14 sign and façade grants. Applications for a sign and façade improvement grant can be picked-up at OPCD. Applications must be received and approved before any work on the project begins.

Sign Application
Facade Application

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Affordable Housing

The City of Melrose is committed to encouraging the development of affordable housing opportunities in the City of Melrose . Please click on the links below to learn more about the City’s Programs.

ã    Currently Available Affordable Housing Units

Current Lotteries within the City of Melrose

Waiting Lists for Affordable Rental Units within Melrose

Current Lotteries in Surrounding Communities

Previous Lotteries within the City of Melrose

ã    Workshops and Financial Assistance for First Time Homebuyers

First Time Home Buyers Workshops

Financial Assistance

ã    Creating Affordable Housing Opportunities

Grants and Loans for Creating Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing Zoning Changes

Currently Available Affordable Housing Units

Current Lotteries within the City of Melrose:

1.       To receive information about upcoming lotteries sponsored by the City of Melrose , please e-mail us at OPCD@cityofmelrose.org with your name, address, and telephone number and with the subject line “affordable housing list.”



2.   This is where the City will list current affordable housing lotteries (including ownership and rental opportunities) being administered by the City. At this time, the City of Melrose is not administering an affordable housing lottery.

Waiting Lists for Affordable Rental Units within Melrose:

1.       Oak Grove Village . The lottery for the 14 affordable rentals available at Oak Grove Village was held in March of 2007. Applications are currently being received for a waiting list. When affordable units become available the management company will contact the waiting list in the order applications are received. To obtain an application and learn more about the units available contact Oak Grove Village at 781.662.3900.

Current Lotteries in Surrounding Communities:

To learn more about lotteries occurring in surrounding communities call a community directly or visit the following websites:

   ã      The Citizens Housing and Planning Association’s website:

                                    www.chapa.org/housing_lotteries.htm

               ã      The State’s website:

                                    www.massdhcd.com/HOP/MainMenu.aspx

    ã      The North Suburban Consortium's website:

                                    www.northsuburbanconsortium.org

    ã      The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance's website:

                                    www.massaffordablehomes.org

Previous Lotteries within the City of Melrose:

1.       Webster Willows - A lottery including 3 condominiums in the newly constructed 26 unit condominium building on Pleasant Street located close to mass transit. The lottery was held in November 2007

2.      Oak Grove Village —14 affordable apartments within the Oak Grove Village mix-use development located next to mass transit and parks were available through a lottery. The lottery was held in March of 2007.

3. Station Crossing—A lottery including 5 condominiums in the newly constructed 48 unit condominium building located close to mass transit and downtown Melrose. The lottery was held in January of 2006.

(Return to Affordable Housing)

Workshop and Financial Assistance for First Time Homebuyers

First Time Home Buyers Workshops

The First Time Home Buyers workshop provides helpful information about the process of purchasing a home, including how to finance a home, understanding your credit history, and learning about financial assistance available. The workshop is an excellent resource and we strongly encourage people interested in purchasing a home to take the workshop. Melrose offers the workshop through the North Suburban Consortium. To find out when the next workshop will be offered, please contact The North Suburban Consortium at 781.324.5720. Accredited First Time Home Buyer’s workshops are also offered throughout the state. For a list of the dates and location of upcoming workshops visit the Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association’s (CHAPA) website: www.chapa.org/housing_workshops2005.htm .



Financial Assistance

To qualify for the following programs, applicants must have taken a CHAPA certified first time homebuyers workshop (see above for listing).

Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance. The City of Melrose offers down payment and closing cost assistance through the North Suburban Consortium (NSC). To be eligible for this assistance household income must not exceed 80% of median income in the Boston metropolitan area as defined by HUD and the property to be purchased must not exceed the maximum sale price for the particular community in which the house is located. Additionally, eligible applicants must either use the Soft Second mortgage package or a Mass Housing Finance mortgage package (described below); however, some exception do apply. The property to be purchased must be located in one of the NSC communities. The City of Melrose is a NSC community.

To learn more contact the North Suburban Consortium at 781.324.5720.

Assistance amounts:

                        $5,000 for single family homes and condominiums

                        $6,000 for two-family homes

                        $6,500 for three-family homes

            Purchase Price Limits for Homes Purchased in Melrose :

                        $312,895 for condominiums

                        $399,000 for single family homes

                        $501,125 for two-family homes

                        $560,231 for three-family homes

To obtain an application contact the North Suburban Consortium at 781.324.5720. If you are applying of ran affordable housing ownership unit in Melrose you do not need to fill out an addition application to apply. However, you must indicate your interest in participating in this program to OPCD.

Soft Second Loan Program. The Soft Second Loan Program offers reduced cost mortgage financing. Borrowers must be creditworthy and meet standard underwriting criteria. To qualify household income must not exceed 100% of the median income for the Boston Metropolitan Area as defined by HUD. Through the “Soft Second” program borrowers get two mortgages through a participating lender. The second mortgage is subsidized by the North Suburban Consortium through a Mass Housing Partnership Loan. Borrowers pay less than the standard mortgage and interest payments on the second mortgage and avoid having to pay private mortgage insurance.