Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Agenda 6 items

1. 1.
   23-1710 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Meeting of November 16, 2023.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Matthew McLaughlinAye
   • Lance L. DavisAye
   • Ben Ewen-CampenAye
   • Beatriz Gomez Mouakad Aye
   • Jake WilsonAye

   • 📎 Minutes - Land Use - 11-16-23 Full
2. 2. Public Hearings
3. 2.1.
   23-1625 Zoning Ordinance Kept in committee

   Amending Section 7.2.7 of the Zoning Ordinances to add Shared Workspace & Arts Education to Table 7.2.7 Permitted Uses.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair McLaughlin opened the public hearing at 6:47 pm and closed it at 6:48 with no testimony given. Written comment will be accepted until December 15 at noon, and can be sent to \cf1\f1 PublicComments@somervillema.gov. Mr. Capuano of the Planning Board invited the public to share comments with the Planning Board as well (Planning@somervillema.gov).\cf0\f0\par \par Councilor Wilson explained that an applicant for a permit in the CALA building, formerly the Powder House Community School, was rejected during the Plan Review phase on the grounds that the shared workspace and arts education the applicant envisioned was not allowed on the property. He said that Dir. Bartman identified a \ldblquote tweak\rdblquote to the zoning to allow the combined use. Nina Gonzalez and Fern Supawanich, the owner of Commonwealth Clayworks, spoke to the business\rquote s impact on the community and the importance of using the CALA building. They said that without the zoning change, they would not be able to offer classes or have a shared art workspace.\par \par Councilor Ewen-Campen asked for clarification on how the term \ldblquote shared workspace\rdblquote may be interpreted. Nina Gonzalez said that their intention for a shared workspace is to allow experienced potters to use clay and equipment in the space, not for office space. Dir. Lewis said that the focus on art education is key here, and Councilor Davis added that language on a shared art space already exists in Sec. 9.2.2.f (Arts & Creative Enterprise Use Categories) of the Zoning Ordinance. Ms. Aboff of the Planning Board said that the separate definitions for shared workspaces and coworking may qualify for revision in the future.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   • 📎 Zoning Amendment Section 7.2.7 Powderhouse School Special District
4. 2.2.
   23-1617 Public Communication Kept in committee

   Charles Zammuto requesting the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to change the zoning district of 563-565 Broadway from Urban Residence (UR) to Mid-Rise 4 (MR4).

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair McLaughlin opened the public hearing at 6:50 pm and closed it at 6:51 with no testimony given. Written comment will be accepted until December 15 at noon, and can be sent to \cf1\f1 PublicComments@somervillema.gov. Mr. Capuano of the Planning Board invited the public to share comments with the Planning Board as well (Planning@somervillema.gov).\cf0\f0\par \par \par \cf1\f1\par }

   • 📎 Zoning Map 536-565 Broadway
5. 3. Item to be Withdrawn
6. 3.1.
   23-1305 Public Communication Recommended to be withdrawn

   John Fragione and Agostino Feola, Trustees of Frala Realty Trust, requesting the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to change the zoning district of 295-297 Medford Street and 93 Walnut Street from Mid-Rise 3 (MR3) to Mid-Rise 5 (MR5).

   • 📎 Zoning Map 295-297 Medford St and 93 Walnut St
7. 4. Other Items
8. 4.1.
   23-1306 Public Communication Kept in committee

   Mai Lau, 635 Somerville Avenue LLC, requesting the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to change the zoning district of 627 Somerville Avenue from Neighborhood Residence (NR) to Mid-Rise 3 (MR3).

   • 📎 Zoning Map 627 Somerville Ave
9. 4.2.
   23-0791 Zoning Ordinance Recommended to be approved as amended

   Amending the Zoning Ordinances Section 10.3, Development Standards, and Table 10.4.1. to include vegetated roofs.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Councilor Ewen-Campen reviewed changes to the amendment that were based on feedback from previous committee discussion. He noted that the green score multiplier now increases for each depth. Councilor Gomez Mouakad expressed concerns that the ordinance as written would lead rooftop green space to replace ground-level green space in new construction. She suggested adding a clause to require vegetated roofs in addition to ground-level green space to protect public access. Councilor Ewen-Campen said that the amendment applies to mid-rise and high-rise districts for projects that will not create much publicly accessible green space in the first place. Councilor Wilson said that there have been challenges creating public green space in the city, and the definition of \ldblquote green space\rdblquote may need reworking, but the city should also value green space on private property. Dir. Galligani added that another impact might be less usable space on the ground. He shared a statement from the Administration on concerns with the proposed ordinance regarding enforcement and preemption with the building code.\i\par \par Chair McLaughlin moved to replace the amendment before the Committee with the text of attachment titled\i0 \ldblquote Land Use - 2023-12-07 Vegetated Roofs Changes (with 23-0791)\rdblquote . The motion was approved with 5 in favor (Councilor Wilson, Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Davis and Chair McLaughlin), none opposed and none absent. \i Councilor Ewen-Campen then moved to change \ldblquote\i0 eight percent\i\rdblquote in Sec. 10.3.8.a to \ldblquote\i0 eighty percent\i\rdblquote .\i0 He explained that the change was to correct a typo. The motion was approved with 5 in favor (Councilor Wilson, Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Davis and Chair McLaughlin), none opposed and none absent.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   • 📎 05.11.23 CC Amend Zoning Vegetated Roofs
   • 📎 Land Use - 2023-11-16 Vegetated roofs amendment 10.31.23-2 (with 23-0791)
   • 📎 Land Use - 2023-12-07 Vegetated Roofs Changes (with 23-0791)
   • 📎 12.14.23 CC Amend Zoning 10.3 Vegetated Roofs