Boston Zoning Roundup: March 2026

Boston had 25 public meetings in March 2026, with 481 zoning activity items identified across those sessions and 117 key decisions identified. Zoning was the most frequently discussed topic, appearing 114 times across meeting transcripts. Activity was up 29% compared to February (374 activity items across 11 meetings).

Activity items are keyword mentions — such as rezoning, variance, and public hearing — detected in official meeting transcripts.

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 114 instances
• residential: 85 instances
• approved: 80 instances
• commercial: 41 instances
• motion to approve: 30 instances

Decision Breakdown

• Approved: 93
• Denied: 2
• Deferred/Continued: 7
• Other: 15

Notable Meetings

3 of 25 meetings highlighted based on activity volume.

Zoning Board of Appeal - 2026-03-24

March 24, 2026 - 167 activity items identified (zoning, approved, deferred)

• Approved: Approved 200-unit mixed-use residential project by Excorpity Capital with 29 affordable units (17% of leasable area), 8 artist units, 66 parking spaces, and retail space. Building is 6-7 stories, approximately 150,000 square feet. Requires variances for multifamily use in community commercial/industrial zones, height (70 feet vs 35 feet allowed), FAR (4.7), and open space.
• 27 more decisions - unlock full meeting analysis →

Zoning Board of Appeal - 2026-03-10

March 10, 2026 - 106 activity items identified (zoning, approved, variance)

• Approved: Demolition of existing 2-unit dwelling and construction of new 6-unit residential building with 6 parking spaces. Developer: petitioner represented by Richard Linns. Located in EDR-3 District. Approved with conditions for planning department review regarding parking count and open space improvements.
• 25 more decisions - unlock full meeting analysis →

BPDA Board of Directors - 2026-03-19

March 19, 2026 - 72 activity items identified (industrial, commercial, comprehensive plan)

• Approved: Approved scoping determination waiving further review for conversion of 11-story office building (Old South Building, constructed 1902-1904) into 255 residential rental units with 52 affordable units (20% of total). Project by 249 Washington Street Owner LLC includes 22 compact studios, 105 studios, 19 compact one-bedrooms, and 32 two-bedrooms. Approved PILOT agreement providing average 75% tax abatement for 29 years.
• 14 more decisions - unlock full meeting analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public meetings were held in Boston in March 2026?

Boston had 25 public meetings in March 2026, with 481 zoning activity items identified.

What were the top zoning topics in Boston in March 2026?

The most discussed topics were zoning (114), residential (85), approved (80), commercial (41), motion to approve (30).

How many zoning decisions were made in Boston in March 2026?

117 key zoning decisions were identified across 25 public meetings in March 2026.

What to Watch

• Commercial mentions were up 141% from February.
• Motion to approve came up 2900% more often than February.

Get the Full Picture

This is just the summary. The full analysis for each Boston meeting includes vote counts, zoning change details, and links to the exact moments in meeting audio.

Start your free trial to see what you're missing.