Land Use Committee

Council Chamber and Remote Participation

Agenda — 17 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 10/18/25 at 9:30 AM) Original (Posted online: 10/24/25 at 11:15 AM) Revised (Posted online: 10/29/25 at 10:00 AM) Revised
2. 1 This meeting was held virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:36 pm by Chair McLaughlin and adjourned at 8:02 pm with a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Davis, Wilson, Ewen-Campen and McLaughlin), none opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Sait). Others present: Ben Demers - Urban Revitalization Senior Planner, Samantha Carr - Land Use Liaison, Yasmin Raddassi – Legislative Liaison, Daniel Bartman - Director of Planning and Zoning, Delaney Fisher-Cassiol - Clerk of Committees The committee went into recess at 6:36pm and returned at 6:40pm The committee went into recess at 7:15pm and returned at 7:16pm
3. 2 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_XKqTDtiQTeiqFZ9avi1QSA 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.
4. 3 Roll Call
5. 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Meeting of October 2, 2025. 25-1544 Accepted Pass
6. 2. Public Hearings
7. 2.1. 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. 25-1554 Kept in committee
8. 2.2. 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. 25-1552 Kept in committee
9. 2.3. 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. 25-1539 Kept in committee
10. 2.4. Requesting that this City Council schedule a joint public hearing with the Somerville Redevelopment Authority regarding updating the 90 Washington Street Demonstration Project Plan. 25-1239 Recommended to be marked work completed
11. 3. 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. 25-0085 Kept in committee
12. 4. Ten individuals, including five residents, submitting comments re: item 24-0059, a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 321 Washington Street from Fabrication (FAB) to Commercial Industry (CI). 24-0328 Recommended to be marked work completed
13. 5. Requesting approval of the amended 90 Washington Street Demonstration Project Plan. 25-1594 Kept in committee
14. 6. Requesting approval of an amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement between the City Council and Redevelopment Authority regarding the redevelopment of 90 Washington Street. 25-1595 Kept in committee
15. 7. Requesting approval of the development objectives for the redevelopment of 90 Washington Street. 25-1596 Kept in committee
16. 8. Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development conveying a summary of the 90 Washington process review and development objectives. 25-1607 Kept in committee
17. 15 Referenced Documents: • Land Use - 2025-11-06 Pre-Submittal Meetings Presentation (with 25-1554) • Land Use - 2025-11-06 Home-Based Child Day Care Presentation (with 25-1552) • Land Use - 2025-11-06 Gilman Square Scenarios 1-4 Maps (with 25-0085) • Land Use - 2025-11-06 LUC Gilman Square TOD Upzoning Updates (with 25-0085) • Land Use - 2025-11-06 90 Washington SRA Presentation S (with 25-1594, 25-1595, 25-1596, 25-1607) • Land Use - 2025-11-06 Memo (with 25-0085)