The last meeting of the year of the Mt. Hope Canterbury Neighborhood Association (MHC), focused on ongoing safety, traffic, transportation, an electric storage system for the neighborhood, local business development, and zoning issues.

A long discussion ensued over the Dec. 9 Boston City Council hearing that both MHC co-chairs Lisa Beatman and Rick Yoder attended that concerned possibly amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove all parking minimums as requirements for a residential structure.

“There’s a lot of advocacy groups…they think that any off-street parking space that a development has is adding to the housing costs, that more units could be built on the land that’s used for parking lots,” said Beatman. “They think it would be better to have, what I call, a one-size-fits-all-policy. It doesn’t require them (developers) to have any (parking spaces).”

Beatman argued that in areas that are devoid of adequate convenient public transportation, like the Mt. Hope Canterbury area, this would not work. Timothy Guimond, representing District 4 City Councilor Brian Worrell, agreed that locally, some of the slowest bus routes are in the district, and require many to have access to a car.

“I definitely think everything should be on a case-by-case basis.” He said that a development with three bedrooms indicated that there may be more than one person who would require a car to get around. It was suggested that the number of parking spaces should be linked to improving bus transportation with the example of the local #14 bus that serves Hyde Park, Roslindale and Roxbury which “doesn’t go anywhere.” Yoder said the largest group at the hearing was from Cambridge where bike lanes abound and how “wonderful Cambridge was, they don’t have a car.” Why Cambridge residents were testifying at Boston City Council hearing was not clear.

Beatman said that in the future, circumstances change for families and a car is a necessity. “The majority of poor people don’t have cars, and this relegates people to a class and economic status that is static.”

Boston Police District E-18 officers Matthew Conley and Rico Lucien’s crime report showed just one incident since Nov.13, that of a larceny (theft of $800). Conley did warn about a major focus on car theft.

“You’re running in to get something, and you leave your car running and it goes away. The car’s not going to get that cold.” He cautioned drivers to also keep their cars locked. “Do not leave your computer or iPad or $800 of cash in your wallet. Take that into the house with you.”

This discussion led to the issue of speeding and driver confusion on American Legion Highway over bike lanes, vehicle parking, and lane mergers. Speeding cars are not seeing the painted arrows, indicating a fast lane merge to the left, in time to avoid an accident. One person said his sister’s legallyparked car was recently hit and totaled.

“None of this surprises me,” said Josh McCorkleof theMayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, as he commented on walking to the meeting and crossing American Legion. “The transportation department is looking at other solutions,” he said.

One possibility is a concrete cast-in-place pole, but this could create another unsafe solution.

“We need strong advocacy from you guys,” said Beatman, speaking to both McCorkle and Guimond, who was also in attendance. Beatman said that better signage has been requested for a long time. “To not get a merge sign is outrageous,” added Yoder. “Some of this, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to solve the problem.” Beatman said the road had improved but the same solutions are not always right for all situations.

Beatman said that a virtual open community meeting, hosted by the Cannabis Control Commission, is planned for Jan. 8, 2026, at 7 p.m. On the agenda is the City Farm Cannabis, at 717-721 American Legion Hwy, proposal for a marijuana product manufacturing license. To attend, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84704681681. Questions or comments about the proposal can be sent to Sigurgeir Jonson, |sigurgeir.jonson@boston.gov. “This is an opportunity to participate in the Cannabis City Farm proposal,” said Beatman.

Representatives from Eversource distributed a questionnaire to the group regarding the installation of a Battery Electric Storage System (BESS)behind the Stop & Shop Plaza. This has been under consideration for a while, and the questionnaire has been distributed before. It is designed to determine community concerns and need for more information. Yoder said that Eversource would return when they have more to report that outlines the type of batteries to be used and if there are any related health issues in using these batteries.

The next MHC meeting will be held on Jan. 8, 2026.