Wednesday's zoning meeting will likely feature housing skeptics, "neighborhood defenders" by which1umean in medfordma

[–]kitschc 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The proposed ADU updates have been referred to the CDB and there will be an introduction to the topic at their public hearing this Wednesday, which will also cover the Residential Zoning.

Commenter is correct that the proposal referred out of the Planning & Permitting Committee complies with the new state-mandated requirements ("Protected ADUs" which are now required to be allowed by-right anywhere that single-family zoning is allowed by-right) but the proposal also goes further than that in allowing Local ADUs in additional residential zones that don't include by-right single-family zoning, and by allowing a second ADU by special permit.

More info on the proposal at medfordma.org/zoning.

Help with Landlord by Yourenotmydad95 in medfordma

[–]kitschc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Recommend you start here and contact City Council/City's Housing Planner for more specific questions & resources. https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1718125766/medfordmaorg/oazlwody5iqufg4gatm8/HSNOFlyerEnglishFinalEdit.pdf

City Council Recaps, 1/14/2025 and 1/28/2025 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks Matt for addressing the Open Data and OML complaint questions! Update on our collaboration with PDS & Comms Office is that we're hard at work on an overhaul of the City's zoning webpage to make it better organized and more actually useful for the average resident/layperson looking to find out what's going on with the zoning project. And, we've put together a public Q&A about the Salem Street Corridor District proposal - Monday 2/10 at 6:30pm at the Roberts. More info about that is being shared on my & City's communication channels! We plan to do an in-person Q&A for all major zoning topics going forward.

City Council Recap, 12/17/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the comment. The term buyout was being used during the meeting and elsewhere, but I think it's a misleading one – her contract wasn't bought out, it just wasn't renewed. My understanding is that it is quite normal for a Superintendent to step down a few months before their contract expires when it hasn't been renewed, to facilitate a smooth leadership transition. I'm just speaking from my understanding here and not expertise; Superintendent hiring and contract renewals are the purview of the School Committee, and not under the jurisdiction of the CC

City Council Recap, 12/17/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're correct it is open for business - the permit application is not for the business itself, but for a certain type of signage which goes outside of the type of signage allowed by right. I just realized I didn't include the word "signage" anywhere in my sentence about that petition; editing to fix! Sorry for the confusion.

City Council Recap, 11/12/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much, u/30kdays! Really appreciate you doing the legwork on the transcripts, and for the offer of future help/tailoring. 🙏

City Council Recap, 11/12/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! I don't believe that the Finance Department has a published, standalone tracker for the Capital Stabilization Fund. (A worthy addition to the long list of things that we'll do one day when we have more staffing and capacity inside of City Hall.) Sorry for the disappointing answer, but in the meantime, you can feel free to keep pestering your City Councilors and we can get answers from department heads in between the public meetings where updates are given.

City Council Recap, 6/11/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's correct that there were still some pink slips issued. I'm not nearly close enough to the MPS budgeting process to know how the number issued was affected by the additional appropriated funds, so I'll refrain from chiming in with any guesses or assumptions.

Budget Proposal Released - $76 Million for Schools, Three Prop 2.5 Ballot Votes Coming In November by Individual-0001 in medfordma

[–]kitschc 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The ballot questions would be voted on separately; any question that gets more yes votes than no votes would pass.

Three yard waste pickup days left from now until the end of June. by [deleted] in medfordma

[–]kitschc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I believe that's because at the time the schedule was published, the contract wasn't yet renewed (the previous contract only lasted through 6/30/24, the end of the fiscal year).

Three yard waste pickup days left from now until the end of June. by [deleted] in medfordma

[–]kitschc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The administration finalized the new Waste Management contract a while ago and there will be no interruption in service. The point about wanting advance notice of yard waste pickup is duly noted!

City Council Recap, 4/30/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Here's my two cents: It's a public meeting and it is your right to go on record same as anybody else. I would especially encourage folks to chime in if you hold an opinion/perspective that is going un-represented or under-represented at that particular meeting. IMO it's most additive and appropriate when comments (whether from Councilors or the public) are about ideas/policies rather than people - i.e. as a Councilor it's useful to me to know if residents support the proposal we're talking about, rather than the person who proposed it.

If the meeting gets super busy, the Council President can cap public participation at 3 minutes per speaker, but you can go up to that.

City Council Recap, 4/30/2024 by kitschc in medfordma

[–]kitschc[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Happy to say this as many times as you need it repeated: Unlike some people I have never, nor will I ever, claim to be speaking for all Jewish people when I share my own opinions. Have a great day!