Journalism 101: Covering our new zoning code

The Waltham Times is hosting a Journalism 101 learning experience with Anne Donohue, an award-winning journalist and retired Boston University professor. The assignment: Report on the June 5 public hearing for the city’s zoning code review. 

This exercise gives participants the opportunity to research the zoning code in depth, think about its impact on the city and inform their views of city council candidates in this year’s municipal election. 

To prepare, join Anne Donohue for a one-hour refresher course on basic journalistic principles and methods on Tuesday, June 3, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register here.

Participants next will attend the public hearing at the Clark Government Center Building, 119 School St., on June 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Journalism 101 participants then will draft their news stories and submit their completed articles by the end of day on June 8 to news@walthamtimes.org. Donohue will edit and provide feedback on each one.

Background information

The City of Waltham this year is undertaking a comprehensive zoning review, the first in a decade. The 2014-15 Comprehensive Zoning Review, conducted by a committee of appointed Waltham residents, proposed a number of changes to the Waltham zoning code. 

Only one part of the zoning code was changed in response to this review: The parking requirement in the Riverfront Overlay District was reduced from two spots per unit down to 1.5. The City Council passed the measure after overriding Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy’s veto. 

The 2020 Affordable Housing Report recommended zoning changes, which the city did not enact. 

For this year’s zoning review, the city has taken a different approach and enlisted a consulting firm to rewrite the zoning code. This comprehensive zoning review is being conducted by CommunityScale. Residents can view the bid documents outlining the scope of the consultants’ work here. 

There was a City Council meeting from Dec. 2 last year, when the consultants provided an overview of their work and allowed councilors to ask clarifying questions. A recording of the Dec. 2 meeting is available here.

CommunityScale has spent the past few months talking with city departments regarding their expectations and the changes the departments would like to see in a new zoning code. CommunityScale will host the June 5 public hearing to receive input from Waltham residents.

The resulting changes will be a zoning amendment, which means state law requires the city to advertise the language of the final zoning code and then host a public input hearing later this year prior to voting the new zoning code into law.