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Land Use Committee

Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Online only

This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.

▶ Watch video Agenda PDF Minutes PDF View on Legistar

What happened

5 items of legislation were taken up.

  • 3 recommended to be approved
  • 1 accepted
  • 1 recommended to be marked work completed

Agenda 5 items

Notices from the agenda

This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair McLaughlin at 6:33pm and adjourned at 6:44pm on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, McLaughlin, 0 opposed, and 1 absent (Ewen-Campen). Others present: Yasmine Raddassi - Legislative Liaison, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager.

(Posted online: 12/2/25 at 8:45 AM)

Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, 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_a8LMiWeYRiqr2oUHkVEkvg 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

  1. 1.
    25-1780 Committee Minutes Accepted

    Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Meeting of November 20, 2025.

    Roll call: 4 aye · 1 absent
    • Matthew McLaughlinAye
    • Ben Ewen-CampenAbsent
    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Naima SaitAye
    • Lance L. DavisAye
  2. 2.
    25-1554 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 10.10.3, 15.1.2, 15.1.6, 15.1.8, 15.2.1, 15.2.2, 15.2.3, 15.2.4, 15.3.1, 15.3.2, and 15.5.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to make pre-submittal meetings optional for most permits and to improve clarity and consistency.

    Roll call: 4 aye · 1 absent
    • Matthew McLaughlinAye
    • Ben Ewen-CampenAbsent
    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Naima SaitAye
    • Lance L. DavisAye
  3. 3.
    25-1552 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Tables 4.1.13, 4.2.13, 4.3.13, 4.4.13, 5.1.14, 7.2.7, 7.4.8, 8.4.16 (c), and 9.1.1 of the Zoning Ordinance to permit Home-Based Child Day Care accessory uses and make corrections.

    Roll call: 4 aye · 1 absent
    • Matthew McLaughlinAye
    • Ben Ewen-CampenAbsent
    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Naima SaitAye
    • Lance L. DavisAye
  4. 4.
    25-1539 Public Communication Recommended to be approved

    12 registered voters requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 363 Highland Avenue from Mid-Rise 4 (MR4) to Mid-Rise 5 (MR5) and from MR4 to Mid-Rise 6 (MR6), and 110 Willow Avenue MR4 to MR6.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Councilor Davis recused himself from this item as an abutter to the property.\par }

    Roll call: 3 aye · 1 absent · 1 recused
    • Matthew McLaughlinAye
    • Ben Ewen-CampenAbsent
    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Naima SaitAye
    • Lance L. DavisRecused
  5. 5.
    25-0085 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

    That the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning draft an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances for transit oriented height and density bonuses for additional affordable housing and other enumerated community benefits.