Minutes - Economic Development Committee

Malden City Hall

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

City of Malden

Meeting Minutes - Final

Economic Development Committee

Councillor Taylor, Chair

Councillor Luong, Vice Chair

Councillor Condon

Councillor Crowe

Councillor McDonald

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

5:30 PM

City Hall, Room 105

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

Watch the meeting with Teams: https://tinyurl.com/msujp2te

A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. While no formal votes or actions

are anticipated by the City Council, members may participate in the discussion of topics listed

on this agenda. This notice is filed to ensure compliance with the Open Meeting Law should a

quorum of the parent body be present.

4 - Ari Taylor, Michelle Luong, Peg Crowe and Carey McDonald

Present:

1 - Paul Condon

Absent:

Roll Call

Also Present: Council President Linehan Councillors Sica, Simonelli, Winslow

Councillors Colon Hayes via Teams

Councillors O'Malley via Teams/in person 5:56 PM

Maria Luise-Special Assistant to the Mayor

Chris Mooney-Assistant City Solicitor

Michelle Romero-City Planner

Alex Pratt-Director OSPCD

Zach Lemel -Deputy Director of Economic Development

Elana Eimert- Senior Planner

Councillor Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM.

There will be audio and video for this meeting via Teams.

Minutes to be Approved

230-26

Minutes of February 10, 2026 to be approved.

A motion was made by Councillor Luong, seconded by Councillor McDonald, that

the Committee Minutes of February 10, 2026 be approved. The motion carried by

a unanimous vote.

Business

253-26

Order: That the City Council tasks the Economic Development Committee, in

conjunction with respective City staff, to undertake studies and obtain resident

input on the infrastructure, environmental, health, and economic considerations

data centers may have on the City of Malden and surrounding communities. The

Economic Development Committee will report back to the Full Council on the

findings from this study and provide a recommendation to determine appropriate

zoning districts and use regulations.

Sponsors: Ari Taylor, Carey McDonald and Ryan O'Malley

Attachments: Data Center Definitions 51226

Data Center Information 51226

Councillor Taylor gave clarification that she heard from the City Clark, that in order for us

to do a moratorium, there has to be a definition in our zoning code. We currently do not

have that. So one thing we're going to have to work on is defining it and then sending it

back. She gave a handout to the committee on definition samples from other cities and

towns to review and asked if they had any questions or discussion or ideas.

Councillor McDonald asked we have the moratorium but in order to clarify what it applies

to goes to enforcement and we need to adopt a definition and asked if the handout is a

draft definition

Councillor Taylor explains these are two draft definitions one sheet is draft definitions

from other cities and towns and the other is information from OSPCD that they put

together which she shared for the committee to review to see what they are looking that

fits best for our purpose here in Malden.

Michelle Romero, City Planner explained that a moratorium on permitting data centers

requires a zoning amendment, which must include a clear definition of 'data center' and a

public hearing, as the current zoning code lacks such a definition. You need to not only

propose a definition for the use you would then propose the moratorium which would then

get added to the zoning.

Councillor McDonald asked if we have done it this way in the past have we not done it

this way by passing an order

Michelle explained I think it was licensing that was being referred to because I heard

some of the data from that meeting in licensing ordinances you can amend on the floor

so you could enact a moratorium of that licensing ordinance.

Councillor McDonald asked if this is for discussion today

Councillor Taylor said this is for discussion and see what the next step is. We will

probably send something new out to the Council then go to zoning

Councillor McDonald the point of the moratorium is to take time to develop the policy so

they would except a definition which is simpler and broader

Councillor O'Malley questioned whether a moratorium could be enacted by order or

required a zoning amendment, referencing past moratoriums on housing and self-storage

facilities, which all went through the zoning amendment process and required a 2/3

council vote.

Michelle said yes you implemented it several times several different moratoriums more

than probably 20 years ago, then more recently within the past 10 or 15 years, you

implemented it and renewed it and renewed it several times. All those amendments, had

to go through the zoning amendment process, public hearing every time you extended it,

it went back for public hearing because it was an amendment to the zoning. She said

she believes that their requirement is a 2/3 council vote.

Councillor Crowe asked if we could take this information and digest it and do a little

research

Councillor Taylor wanted to know what the sense of the committee or if they would like to

adopt one of the definitions moving forward.

The Committee agreed that the next step is to file a new paper to create the use in the

table of uses and define it, with the Planning Board Director tasked to draft language for

the moratorium and zoning regulations, and OSPCD to provide a recommended

definition.

Councillor Taylor entertained a motion to table the paper by Councillor McDonald and

seconded by Councillor Luong. All were in favor.

A motion was made by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Luong, that

the Order be tabled. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Communication from Mayor Christenson regarding an Economic Development

Package Proposal

256-26

Attachments: Mayor's Letter & Economic Development Package

260518_Presentation_Econ Dev_Policy Package

EcDevPresentation_CommercialSt_V5

MHC re CCP 256-2026 5.21.26 wAtts

Proposed Amendments to MCC 4.16 Sign Control for Council Review

OSPCD Memo Recommendations for 256-26 May 28 2026

Historical Commission to OSPCD 6.1.26 ref CCP 256-26

BldgCmmr CityPlr 256-26 6.3.26 wAtt

OSPCD Response to BldgCmmrCityPlr on 256-26 June 8 2026

Proposed Sec. 12.12.030 Use Table

Proposed Sec. 12.32.060 Medical Center Definition

Proposed Sec. 12.28.010 Nonconforming Uses

Historical Commission to OSPCD 6.1.26 CCP 256-26 Resent with

signatures

Section 12.28.010 PreNCF 6.16.26 Redlined

Redlined proposed amendments June 11 2026

Alex Pratt reviewed communications from Mayor Christenson and regarding the

economic development package, which includes amendments to signage ordinances and

zoning for different uses, with a larger conversation scheduled for the following week.

Councillor McDonald requested benchmarks from peer communities to understand how

similar municipalities handle sign design review ordinances and zoning, suggesting a list

of comparable cities for reference.

Councillor Winslow debated the appropriate cutoff date for historic building protections,

considering dates such as 1950 or the formation of the redevelopment authority, and

requested data on the number of buildings affected by different cutoff years.

Councillor Taylor emphasized the importance of visual aids, such as maps and

before-and-after examples, to help digest proposed changes and understand their impact,

especially for the upcoming meeting. She will schedule the next meeting for Monday at

6:00 PM, inviting stakeholders and affected groups to participate, and discussed the

need to balance this topic with other council priorities like the budget.

Communication from Mayor Christenson regarding Commercial Street

Economic/Zoning Analysis

257-26

Attachments: Mayor's Letter and Commercial Street Analysis

260518_Presentation_Econ Dev_Policy Package

EcDevPresentation_CommercialSt_V5

Alex Pratt, Director OSPCD talked about the Mayor's letter proposes extending the CBD

to Charles St. and allowing greater investment in commercial and industrial uses along

Commercial Street, covering parcels like the National Grid property, while clarifying that

residential uses are not being proposed for most of the area.

Councillor Simonelli asked what would be examples of Industrial use on Commercial

Street

Zach Lemel, Deputy Director of Economic Development discussed moving away from

single-story warehouses toward multi-story commercial, industrial, and light

manufacturing uses, citing 200 Exchange as an example of the desired height and

modern industrial development. He noted that single-story warehouses currently yield low

tax values and emphasized the need to increase property value by allowing greater

density and height for commercial and industrial uses.

Councillor Simonelli suggested looking at the Rte 60 corridor for building up space

because people like easy on and easy off. The fact of the matter is you get a huge tax

base out of all the businesses along the corridor.

Councillor Taylor said right now we are only looking at this space and we will have more

opportunities to talk about this next week

Councillor Winslow Councillor Winslow discussed the importance of accommodating

businesses like plumbers and electricians, suggesting multi-tiered buildings with space

for fabrication and storage, and considering how to combine these uses for greater

convenience and value. He feels that would be a good mix. We attract people as a

community to do that.

Other Business

Adjournment

A motion was made by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Luong, that

this meeting be adjourned at 6:05 PM. The motion carried unanimously.

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