Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Online only Joint Meeting with the Planning Board
This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.
What happened
6 items of legislation were taken up.
- 3 recommended to be withdrawn
- 2 kept in committee
- 1 accepted
Agenda 6 items
Notices from the agenda
Referenced Documents: • Land Use - 2024-02-15 Public Comments (with 24-0059) • Land Use - 2024-02-15 Public Comments-2 (with 24-0059) • Land Use - 2024-02-15 Public Comments (with 23-1810) • Land Use - 2024-02-15 Public Comments (with 23-1827, 23-1830, 24-0059)
This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair McLaughlin at 6:32 pm and adjourned at 7:56 pm with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilor Wilson, Councilor Pineda Neufeld, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Davis and Chair McLaughlin), none absent, and none opposed. President Ewen-Campen appointed Councilor Scott to replace him on the Land Use Committee for this meeting only. A recess was taken at 6:33 to allow the Planning Board to convene. The recess ended at 6:35 with a roll call of all members present. Others present: Andrew Graminski – PPZ, Emily Hutchings – PPZ, Jahan Habib – Planning Board, Michael Capuano - Planning Board, Amelia Aboff - Planning Board, Deborah Howett-Easton - Planning Board, Luc Schuster - Planning Board, Stephanie Widzowski – Clerk of Committees.
(Posted online: 1/28/2024 at 7:30 AM)
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bIW4TJz1REGz9LF4zqRGkg Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
Roll Call
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1.
Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Joint Meeting with the Planning Board on December 7, 2023.
Roll call: 5 aye
- Matthew McLaughlinAye
- Lance L. DavisAye
- Judy Pineda NeufeldAye
- Jake WilsonAye
- Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
- 2. Public Hearings
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2.1.
15 registered voters requesting a Zoning Text Amendment to amend the Zoning Ordinances to add Section 8.4.19, Climate & Equity Innovation Sub-Area Overlay District.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 This item was withdrawn by the applicant.\par }
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2.2.
13 registered voters requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 8 Park Street, 10 Park Street, 504 Somerville Avenue, and 7-9 Properzi Way from Mid-Rise 4 (MR4) to Climate & Equity Innovation Sub-Area Overlay District, and 15-27 Properzi Way, 29 Properzi Way, 26-32 Park Street, 8-14 Tyler Street, 40 Park Street, 15 Dane Street, 7-9 Tyler Street, 460 Somerville Avenue, 444 Somerville Avenue, 440 Somerville Avenue, 30 Dane Street, and 24-28 Dane Street from Fabrication (FAB) to Climate & Equity Innovation Sub-Area Overlay District.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 This item was withdrawn by the applicant.\par }
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2.3.
234 Pearl Street Realty Trust and Goodpitch, LLC requesting the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to change the zoning district of 234 and 236 Pearl Street from Mid-Rise 4 (MR4) to Mid-Rise 6 (MR6).
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 This item was withdrawn by the applicant.\par }
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2.4.
Requesting ordainment of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances to amend Article 9: Use Provisions, and the Permitted Uses tables of all zoning districts, to establish a Recreational Camp for Children use within the Recreational Services use category.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red5\green99\blue193;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Emily Hutchings of Planning, Preservation and Zoning said that the Inspectional Services Departmnet described this amendment as necessary to address the \ldblquote missing middle\rdblquote for childcare. Councilor Davis noted that the designation appears to only be for licensed recreational camps. Ms. Hutchings confirmed that the use would still be licensed under state law and would simply be for recreational camps instead of daycares.\par \par Chair McLaughlin opened the public hearing at 6:47 pm. Nine people gave testimony. Many cited concerns over traffic and noise levels unique to recreational camps; others agreed that the noise concerns should be addressed, but said that there is not enough childcare in the city as is or that these kinds of programs are in high demand. There being no further speakers, the Chair closed the public hearing at 7:05 pm. \par \par Written comment will be accepted at \cf1\ul PublicComments@somervillema.gov \cf0\ulnone until noon on March 1. Written comment can also be sent to the Planning Board at \cf1\ul Planning@somervillema.gov.\cf0\ulnone\par \cf2\f1\par }
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2.5.
Gregg Donovan requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 321 Washington Street from Fabrication (FAB) to Commercial Industry (CI).
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red5\green99\blue193;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\fi-360\li720\f0\fs24 Chair McLaughlin opened the public hearing at 7:07 pm. Twenty-three people gave testimony. \par -\tab Ethan Dussault said that FAB and ACE requirements keep Somerville artist-friendly and that changing this parcel to Commercial Industry would harm that.\par -\tab Lee Kilpatrick opposed the zoning change and said that FAB helps art spaces thrive.\par -\tab Alyson Schultz, an artist, voiced concerns about losing critical space for the art community.\par -\tab Nicholas Schectman talked about his own experience being priced out of Somerville and read an excerpt that spoke to the importance of old buildings.\par -\tab Jenn Harrington said that Somerville needs the FAB district and urged the preservation of 321 Washington St as an art center.\par -\tab Ami Bennitt said that the parcel has enough space to redevelop and keep the art center.\par -\tab Amanda Bristow spoke against the zoning change.\par -\tab Ellen Waylonis said that she has seen many art spaces pushed out of Somerville and that this zoning change would be harmful to the art community.\par -\tab Paula Garbarino spoke to her long experience as a woodworker who recently had to leave Somerville.\par -\tab Becky Donner said that FAB is vital to the city and without it, Somerville will lose artists.\par -\tab Ada Ren-Mitchell said that arts are important for mental health and are profitable for the city.\par -\tab Coleen Palencia spoke against the zoning change.\par -\tab Sarah Selby said the zoning change would threaten the art community and talked about the safe space for youth and adults alike in her circus arts classes.\par -\tab Gregory Jenkins, Director of the Arts Council, spoke to the importance of the decision to create the FAB district.\par -\tab Kirk Etherton said that it felt wrong that the hard work of those who created the FAB district could be undone so easily.\par -\tab Jon Link expressed strong opposition to the zoning change.\par -\tab Dan Coughlin commented on how FAB is less than 1% of Somerville because of the buildings that were grandfathered in on FAB parcels.\par -\tab Chris Dwan spoke to the need for a better process and criticized the idea of \ldblquote chipping away\rdblquote at the FAB district parcel by parcel. \par -\tab Schuyler Dawson said it took a long time to find a studio space in the city and that Somerville needs more art spaces, not fewer.\par -\tab Bill Cavellini said that this change would set a precedent for other FAB areas and called for revising FAB permitted uses to make it work as intended.\par -\tab Tori Antonino said that she does not understand why the applicant could not keep the parcel under FAB designation and spoke against losing art spaces.\par -\tab Jenn Wood spoke against the zoning change and said that the loss of art space could gather momentum.\par -\tab Michele Hansen talked about watching artists get pushed out of Somerville and the need for a better plan for the district.\par \pard There being no further speakers, the Chair closed the public hearing at 7:49 pm. \par \par Written comment will be accepted at \cf1\ul PublicComments@somervillema.gov \cf0\ulnone until noon on March 1. Written comment can also be sent to the Planning Board at \cf1\ul Planning@somervillema.gov.\cf2\ulnone\f1\par }