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Read the September/October 2026 BCF Newsletter

Newsletter, September/October 2026 Comments Off

Sep 012026

Cambridge Real Estate Developments: Context for Hill’s Crossing Overlay District By Vincent Stanton, Jr. At Town Meeting this fall (or possibly next spring), the Belmont Planning Board, in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Building, will sponsor an article proposing a new zoning overlay for the Brighton Street General Business district, the Hill’s Crossing Overlay District (HCOD). Vincent Stanton Jr. explains what to expect. Read more. 87-101 Blanchard Road to be Redeveloped as Housing By Vincent Stanton, Jr. Although Cambridge Point is the most substantial of the Cambridge developments that could influence Belmont’s plans for Brighton Street, the neighboring [READ MORE]

A Call for Authors

September/October 2026, Volunteer Comments Off

Aug 282026

Belmont Citizens Forum invites writers, researchers, photographers, and engaged neighbors from across Belmont to help shape the next generation of stories about our town. For more than two decades, our bimonthly newsletter has offered in‑depth, independent coverage of issues ranging from the Community Path and rail‑trail planning to Rock Meadow and Lone Tree Hill conservation, historic preservation, and the health of the Mystic Watershed. Now we are looking for new voices to explore what comes next. Do you care about how Town Meeting decisions affect neighborhoods, climate resilience, transportation, or housing? Are you curious about the people who keep Belmont [READ MORE]

Letters to the Editor

September/October 2026, Uncategorized Comments Off

Aug 282026

Over the past two months, Belmont Citizens Forum received several letters from readers. These letters appeared in the September/October 2026 issue and are reproduced here for those who may have missed them. A letter from Larry Link In his article in the July / August Newsletter, Traffic Jam! TAC Raises Transportation Issues, Chip Gaysunas presented a good description of the Transportation Advisory Committee’s (TAC) work. I appreciate the many efforts of volunteers serving on boards and committees, and TAC is an important one for Belmont. I served on the TAC for almost 5 years and on the HS/MS Traffic Task Force, [READ MORE]

Stonefield Farm and Boston Area Gleaners: Growing and Moving Food to Relieve Hunger

Environment, Plants, September/October 2026, Volunteer Comments Off

Aug 272026

Stonefield Farm and Boston Area Gleaners: Growing and Moving Food to Relieve Hunger

By Jeffrey North On a summer day at Stonefield Farm in South Acton, rows of lettuce, tomatoes, and callaloo are harvested not for a farmstand or supermarket but for food banks, pantries, and community kitchens. That distinction captures what makes Boston Area Gleaners unusual: it operates as both a working farm and a regional food–access organization, using Stonefield to grow food and move large volumes of fresh produce efficiently to communities facing hunger. For Belmont readers, the story is worth attention not only because it involves a nearby preserved farm, but also because it shows how food access depends as [READ MORE]

4-H: A Place to Learn, Lead, and Belong

September/October 2026 Comments Off

Aug 272026

By Amalia Müller “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.” The 4-H Pledge 4-H is an organization I participate in, and it has brought me my closest friends and made me a better, more well-rounded person. 4-H is a nonprofit youth organization similar to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Unlike Scouts, 4-H is mixed ages and genders. The 4-H age groups are: Cloverbuds (ages 5-7), Juniors (ages 8-13), and Seniors (ages 14-18). [READ MORE]

Holding On and Letting Go

September/October 2026, Uncategorized Comments Off

Aug 252026

By Anne Marie Mahoney What should a bereavement support group and town government have in common? A deep respect for participants’ experience of loss. I do bereavement work, facilitating programs on coping with grief and loss in church settings and the Beech Street Center. Through Boston College, I teach other facilitators how to lead bereavement programs. How is this work relevant to Belmont politics? Reflecting on the divisive controversies over the naming of the new skating rink and the Belmont Center overlay zoning proposal, I realized that many speaking out on these issues were acting from a place of loss. [READ MORE]

Our Environmental Stewards: Tim Johnson, Native Plant Trust

Environment, Plants, September/October 2026 Comments Off

Aug 252026

Our Environmental Stewards: Tim Johnson, Native Plant Trust

This article is part of the Belmont Citizens Forum’s series on environmental leadership in Massachusetts. Native Plant Trust, based at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one devoted solely to New England’s native plants. It works across the region to protect rare and endangered species, manage sanctuaries from Maine to Vermont, and shows how gardens, streetscapes, and restored habitats can all support biodiversity in our changing climate. From its nurseries to its education programs and volunteer conservation corps, Native Plant Trust saves native plants in the wild, grows them for [READ MORE]

Fighting Algal Blooms: A Belmont High Schooler Has a Solution

Environment, September/October 2026, Water Quality Comments Off

Aug 242026

Fighting Algal Blooms: A Belmont High Schooler Has a Solution

By Omar Albarbari Every summer, harmful algal blooms (HABs) affect lakes and ponds across Massachusetts, sometimes leading to swimming advisories or closures. These blooms can produce toxins that threaten people, pets, and wildlife. Monitoring is expensive, and many of our local bodies of water are affected by these algal blooms. At the time of this writing, Hardy Pond in Waltham has an active bloom, resulting in warnings against swimming, fishing, and boating. HABs are rapid overgrowths of cyanobacteria or algae that have many negative consequences. They can block sunlight, exhaust dissolved oxygen and nutrients, and release cyanotoxins into the water. [READ MORE]

Completing Belmont’s Community Path Will Pay Dividends

Bicycles and bike paths, Bike Paths, Environment, September/October 2026, Traffic Comments Off

Aug 242026

Completing Belmont’s Community Path Will Pay Dividends

By Jeffrey North A share of a $200‑million‑per‑year corridor A recent analysis commissioned by the Norwottuck Network estimates that finishing the 104‑mile Mass Central Rail Trail from Northampton to Boston could generate over $200 million in new economic activity each year, driven chiefly by trail‑oriented tourism and associated spending. The study projects 4 to 5.5 million annual visitors if the corridor is completed, with the investment in remaining gaps paying for itself in under a year. Belmont’s Community Bike Path is one of those gaps; without it, the corridor remains discontinuous, and the full tourism and spending potential cannot be [READ MORE]

87-101 Blanchard Road to Be Redeveloped as Housing

Construction and Housing, Newsletter, September/October 2026 Comments Off

Aug 232026

87-101 Blanchard Road to Be Redeveloped as Housing

By Vincent Stanton, Jr. Cambridge Point is the biggest, but not the only Cambridge development that will impact Belmont’s plans for Brighton Street. Bordering the proposed HCOD on two sides was, until early August, a frumpy 1.5-story brick- and wood-shingled commercial building at 87-101 Blanchard Road in Cambridge. Built in 1970, it was the last building on Blanchard before the street name changes to Brighton as it continues north. The building used to house retail businesses including Able Rug, The Quilt Shop, The Knittin’ Kitten, Orient Sunshine Massage, Sewing & Vac Center, and a Pepperidge Farms outlet store, but has [READ MORE]

Cambridge Real Estate Developments: Context for Hill’s Crossing Overlay District

Construction and Housing, Newsletter, September/October 2026 Comments Off

Aug 232026

Cambridge Real Estate Developments: Context for Hill’s Crossing Overlay District

By Vincent Stanton, Jr. At Town Meeting this fall (or possibly next spring), the Belmont Planning Board, in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Building, will sponsor an article proposing a new zoning overlay for the Brighton Street General Business district, the Hill’s Crossing Overlay District (HCOD). The proposed zoning is analogous to the form-based code adopted by Town Meeting in March for Belmont Center (BCOD) and shares similar goals and methods: to revitalize an area that is not fulfilling its economic potential by increasing the scale and scope of what can be built “by right,” including new housing [READ MORE]

Read the July/August 2026 BCF Newsletter

July/August 2026, Newsletter Comments Off

Jul 012026

Read the July/August 2026 BCF Newsletter Meet Belmont’s Natural Resources Manager: Will McPhee William “Will” McPhee brings a background in forestry, horticulture, and municipal land stewardship to his new role as Belmont’s new natural resources manager and conservation agent. In this interview with Jeffrey North, McPhee discusses Belmont’s urban tree canopy, invasive species, climate resilience, open-space stewardship, and the role residents can play in caring for the town’s natural resources. The Library Garden’s New Look Goes With The Flow of Wellington Brook By Fred Bouchard. Landscape architect Glen Valentine of Stimson, principal on the garden redesign in collaboration [READ MORE]

McLean Hospital Zone 3 Housing Breaks Ground

Construction and Housing, July/August 2026, McLean, Newsletter Comments Off

Jun 302026

McLean Hospital Zone 3 Housing Breaks Ground

By Jeffrey North The long–planned “Zone 3” housing on McLean land is finally moving forward with construction of a 150‑unit, all‑electric housing complex poised to become one of the town’s most significant new sources of both market‑rate and affordable homes. Construction is visible from the Coal Road as it winds up Belmont Hill from Pleasant Street. Brief History of Zone 3 In 1999 Belmont and McLean Hospital consummated an agreement that rezoned 238 acres of McLean land. In exchange for upzoning some of the undeveloped land surrounding the McLean campus to permit commercial development Belmont received 119 acres of conservation [READ MORE]

Our Environmental Stewards: Ian Cooke, NepRWA

Environment, July/August 2026, Newsletter Comments Off

Jun 292026

Our Environmental Stewards: Ian Cooke, NepRWA

This article is part of the Belmont Citizens Forum’s series on environmental leadership in Massachusetts. Within 20 years, I expect to see a more free-flowing Neponset River teeming with native and anadromous fish, with a connected network of bike and pedestrian trails … where people can swim in their local pond or waterway … where restored floodplains and green infrastructure keep us cool, protect people from flooding, and support thriving wildlife. The Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) works to protect and restore one of Greater Boston’s most historically significant rivers, whose 30‑mile course drains parts of 14 cities and towns [READ MORE]

Lexington’s Conservation Stewards

Environment, July/August 2026, Newsletter, Open Space Comments Off

Jun 292026

By Jeffrey North Lexington’s Conservation Division and its network of Conservation Stewards form one of the most robust municipal stewardship programs in the region. Together, they care for more than 1,400 acres of conservation land and more than 50 miles of trails. This partnership offers a useful model for towns like Belmont that are looking to stretch limited staff capacity and improve the ecology and public enjoyment of local open space. The Conservation Division’s Core Mission Lexington’s Conservation Division is the town department charged with administering state and local wetlands laws, managing town-owned conservation land, and supporting the appointed Conservation [READ MORE]

The William Flagg Homer House, a Quest for Escape, Community Service, Empowerment, Enjoyment, and Suffrage

Arts & Culture, Historic Preservation, History, July/August 2026, Newsletter Comments Off

Jun 282026

The William Flagg Homer House, a Quest for Escape, Community Service, Empowerment, Enjoyment, and Suffrage

By John Beaty This story is the second article about the William Flagg Homer House in Belmont. The first, “Who Built the Homer House?” (BCF Newsletter, September/October 2025 issue), focused on how the house was financed, designed, and built. Here, we will describe the extraordinary effort local women made to purchase the grand old house for their Belmont Woman’s Club (BWC). This purchase was made in the context of the suffragists’ campaign for women’s rights across the country. Women’s clubs were established to free women from the home and to provide them refuge, empowerment, enjoyment, and opportunities to serve their communities. [READ MORE]

Profile in Belmont: Cabell Eames

July/August 2026, Newsletter Comments Off

Jun 262026

By Elissa Ely Most of us work in one profession; maybe two, if there’s a second chapter. A rare number find themselves in three. But vanishingly few have led so many lives that it’s hard to keep count (and for that matter, hard to limit the words on their profile). If someone introduced you to Cabell Eames today, it would be as founder of Castling Strategies, a woman-owned policy consulting and advocacy firm. The public interest initiatives she shepherds include climate change, social justice, and immigration reform. Her position requires a polymath: someone with scientific comprehension, political and interpersonal sophistication, [READ MORE]

Traffic Jam! TAC Raises Transportation Issues

July/August 2026, Newsletter, Traffic Comments Off

Jun 252026

By Chip Gaysunas Due to Belmont’s central location in the greater Boston area, its streets experience significant cut-through traffic and congestion daily. Many of Belmont’s streets date to the 1800s and were not designed to handle the speed, weight, and volume of vehicles currently using them. Unfortunately, motorists cutting through Belmont rarely consider the impact their speed and distracted driving can have on pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists. Streets leading to and through Belmont Center, Waverley Square, and Cushing Square typically see the highest daily traffic volume. However, streets serving schools, parks, and other town amenities also experience significant daily [READ MORE]

Balancing Play and Preservation: Inside Belmont’s Open Space Plan Update

July/August 2026, Newsletter, Open Space, Town Committee Meetings Comments Off

Jun 252026

Balancing Play and Preservation: Inside Belmont’s Open Space Plan Update

A Summary of OSRP Virtual Public Meeting, Thursday, May 28, at 6:30 PM By Jeffrey North Belmont’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) is nearing completion after eight months of technical analysis and public engagement. At the final public meeting on May 28 residents called for a balance between recreational uses and the protection of natural resources. The 10–year plan will now be refined and submitted to the state’s Division of Conservation Services (DCS), within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Upon DCS approval Belmont will become eligible for important open space and recreation grants. Belmont’s last OSRP [READ MORE]

The Library Garden’s New Look Goes With The Flow of Wellington Brook

Environment, July/August 2026, Newsletter, Open Space, Plants, Stormwater Comments Off

Jun 252026

The Library Garden's New Look Goes With The Flow of Wellington Brook

By Fred Bouchard “I saw the Wellington Brook as the most important ‘book’ in the library’s collection.” – Glen Valentine Whenever you visit the new Belmont Public Library, take time to visit the garden. Time out a bit from words and pages. Sit on a bench or rock wall. Amble about the paths. Read a poem aloud. Breathe in the trees’ oxygen. Quiz a robin. Play a wooden flute. Admire the bright azaleas. Look up at the seductive magnolias. Worship the majestic Dawn Redwood. Declaim from the amphitheater. But, above all, be sure to watch (and listen to) the Wellington Brook [READ MORE]

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