A map of southwest Lincoln showing the Waltham parcels being considered for rezoning in dark gray. The red dotted line indicates the Lincoln/Waltham border. Click image to enlarge.
The City of Waltham is considering rezoning a parcel of land abutting Lincoln to allow residential development in addition to the existing office park buildings.
The proposal, which was heard by the Waltham City Council on December 8, is for a “Mixed Innovation and Residential Redevelopment Overlay District” (MIRROD) on nine parcels on Winter Street and Old County Road. An abutter’s list shows about a dozen abutting Lincoln parcels on those roads as well as Forester Road and Old Conant Road.
It’s one of three proposals being considered in the city to overlay land currently zoned for commercial or industrial use with mixed innovation and residential redevelopment districts, according to the Waltham Times on Dec. 7.
“These zoning districts will allow the developers to renovate current office spaces to fulfill purposes like multifamily housing, restaurants and commercial recreation facilities, research laboratories, and medical facilities after obtaining a special permit from the City Council. They would also allow municipal buildings in the new mixed-use districts by right, the Waltham Times reported.
The move is in response to Waltham’s rapidly growing property values along with a slowdown in commercial growth and reduced demand for lab space. A Nov. 25 Waltham Times article reported that Board of Assessors Chair Frank Craig “encouraged the city to find a use for unused commercial lots instead of letting them sit vacant and voiced support for mixed-use zoning overlay districts to attract occupancy.”
The document associated with the proposal can be viewed here. The City Council’s Ordinances and Rules Committee and the city Planning Board will meet on Dec. 15 and 17, respectively, to consider the proposal before making recommendations to the full council, which must render a decision by March 8, 2026.
Leave a Reply