Belmont Street and Plantation Street Corridor Zoning Amendment

At a glance

What: an amended City Manager communication (Council item 14a, June 2, 2026) recommending a zoning map amendment for the Belmont Street / Plantation Street corridor.
Where it stands: ongoing. The Economic Development Committee recommended approval 3-0 on September 16, 2026.
Next: needs a full Council vote.

City-initiated, from the Worcester Now|Next long-range plan's growth corridors, ahead of a coming zoning rewrite.
Would replace a relic manufacturing district around the UMass Medicine Science Park, the Beechwood Hotel, the MassDOT District 3 office and a funeral home at 370 Plantation St. with Business, General (BG-3.0), matching the nearby Reactory biomanufacturing park.
Would rezone a conservation-restricted part of Green Hill Park to RS-7 like the rest of the park.
Not tied to a development proposal.

The Planning Board voted to adopt it April 22, 2026, after a continuance for outreach to the Shrewsbury Street and Green Hill neighborhood associations.
Concerns were mainly a misperception that Green Hill Park might be developed.
At the Economic Development Committee, the Chief Development Officer (Peter Dunn) gave an overview and discussed opposition to the item and communications with abutting residents.
Kathleen M. Toomey asked about the zoning of 370 Plantation St.

Planning Board report heard by the Economic Development Committee on September 16, 2026, which recommended approval 3-0. Needs a full Council vote.

About 8 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-09-16 - Economic Development Committee	8

2026-09-16 - Economic Development Committee - Recommended approval 3-0 after Peter Dunn's overview; Kathleen M. Toomey asked about 370 Plantation St. (grandfathered nonconforming; the change would ease future alterations; the owner has been contacted).