After reviewing Marblehead’s updated zoning plan to comply with the MBTA Communities Law, the state today notified town leaders that it “did not identify any items that conflict with the requirements of the regulations.”
“This is a very positive first step for the town of Marblehead to finally get 3A behind us,” said Dan Fox, chair of the Select Board. “I look forward to sharing the compliance model with the town through information sessions over the coming month or so. I believe the work has been done to address the concerns with our previous plan and I am hopeful we can pass this at town meeting in May.”
The new plan re-zones the Tedesco Country Club for multifamily housing and also includes Broughton Road. It does not include zones on Pleasant Street and Tioga Way, as it had in the past.
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities last month identified six “technical” issues with Marblehead’s new plan. Fox, Planning Board member Marc Liebman and Brendan Callahan, director of the town’s Planning and Community Development department, worked on resolving those issues.
MBTA Communities Law multifamily zoning has been a hot button issue in Marblehead for three years. It was first rejected at Town Meeting 2024, approved at Town Meeting 2025 and then overturned at a July 2025 referendum.
Today’s communication does not guarantee the EOHLC will approve Marblehead’s plan, however.
“Please note that this pre-adoption review is limited to the specific issues identified at this stage of review and is based on materials provided by the town of Marblehead. It does not constitute a representation that resolution of the identified issues would result in a compliant zoning district. EOHLC encourages the town to review its existing zoning carefully to make sure there are no provisions that would affect the proposed overlay zoning district,” according to Caroline “Chris” Kluchman at EOHLC.
This is a developing story. Stay with the Current.
