Land Use Committee

Virtual

Agenda — 26 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 5/18/25 at 6:45 AM) Original (Posted online: 5/18/25 at 7:00 AM) Revised (Posted online: 5/23/25 at 8:30 AM) Revised
2. 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair McLaughlin at 6:30 pm and adjourned at 10:36 pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Ewen-Campen, and McLaughlin), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Others present: Daniel Bartman – Director of Planning and Zoning, Brad Rawson – Director of Mobility, Justin Schreiber – Senior Planner, Emily Hutchings – Senior Planner, Josh Eckart-Lee – Sustainability Planner, Yasmin Raddassi – Legislative Liaison, Michael McNeeley – Planning Board Member, Lynn Richards - Planning Board Member, Luc Shuster - Planning Board Member, Michael Capuano - Planning Board Member, Amelia Aboff - Planning Board Member, Johan Habib - Planning Board Member, Madalyn Letellier – Legislative Services Manager. The committee went into recess at 6:33pm and returned at 6:34pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin), 0 opposed and 0 absent. The committee went into recess at 6:43pm and returned at 6:44pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin), 0 opposed and 0 absent. The committee went into recess at 8:53pm and returned at 8:58pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin), 0 opposed and 0 absent.
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_e7ElLXbmTg6eTZ3elxAfVg 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 May 1, 2025. 25-0904 Accepted Pass
6. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Joint Meeting with the Planning Board of May 15, 2025. 25-0970 Accepted Pass
7. 3. Public Hearing
8. 3.1. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Article 8 of the Zoning Ordinance to update Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) references. 25-0907 Recommended to be approved Pass
9. 4. Planning Board conveying recommendations for items #25-0200, #25-0457, and #25-0590. 25-0921 Recommended to be marked work completed
10. 5. 16 residents submitting comments re: item #25-0200, a Zoning Text Amendment to amend Sections 3.1.8c, 3.1.9c, 3.1.10c, 3.1.13k, 3.1.13l, 3.2.12l. and 3.2.12m. 25-0894 Recommended to be marked work completed
11. 6. Planning Board conveying recommendations for items #25-0269, #25-0129, #25-1460, #25-0128, and #25-0131. 25-0829 Recommended to be marked work completed
12. 7. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Article 2 and Article 10 of the Zoning Ordinance to revise definitions and the green score calculation of columnar trees. 25-0737 Recommended to be approved Pass
13. 8. Senator Jehlen and 61 residents submitting comments re: items #24-1460, #25-0128, #25-0129, and #25-0131, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for laboratory, research and development, and arts uses. 25-0725 Recommended to be marked work completed
14. 9. Eight residents submitting comments re: item #25-0269, a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 295-297 Medford Street and 93 Walnut Street from Mid-Rise 3 (MR3) to Mid-Rise 4 (MR4). 25-0724 Recommended to be marked work completed
15. 10. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow the Building Official to waive certain dimensional standards for means of egress. 25-0590 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation Pass
16. 11. Planning Board conveying recommendations for item #24-1584. 25-0516 Recommended to be marked work completed
17. 12. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 2-5 and 10 of the Zoning Ordinance to remove conflicts with the State Building Code. 25-0457 Recommended to be approved Pass
18. 13. That the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning provide the Committee on Land Use with an opinion as to whether the City Council may dictate standards and materials used for outdoor bike facilities. 25-0338 Kept in committee
19. 14. That the Director of Inspectional Services and the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning discuss with this Council, Type IV heavy timber construction now permitted in the 10th edition of Massachusetts State Building Code 780 and potential impacts on inspections, development, and the Zoning Ordinance. 25-0246 Kept in committee
20. 15. 15 registered voters requesting a Zoning Text Amendment to amend the Zoning Ordinance sections 3.1.8c, 3.1.9c, 3.1.10c, 3.1.13k, 3.1.13l, 3.2.12l. and 3.2.12m. 25-0200 Kept in committee
21. 16. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 8 and 12 of the Zoning Ordinance to establish a new Arts & Innovation sub-area of the Master Planned Development Overlay District. 25-0131 Kept in committee
22. 17. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 2, 3-6, and 9 of the Zoning Ordinance to revise the regulations for arts and creative enterprise, office, and residential uses. 25-0129 Recommended to be approved Pass
23. 18. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 6, 9, and 10 of the Zoning Ordinance to establish a new Research & Development zoning district. 25-0128 Recommended to be approved Pass
24. 19. 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
25. 20. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 2, 4-6, 8, and 9 of the Zoning Ordinance to revise the regulations for laboratory uses and buildings. 24-1460 Recommended to be approved Pass
26. 24 Referenced Documents: • Land Use - 2025-06-05 TOD Upzoning Updates (with 25-0085) • Land Use - 2025-06-05 Floodplains 2025 Update (with 25-0907) • Land Use - 2025-06-05 Sustainability Amendments Update (with 25-0457) • Land Use - 2025-06-05 Means of Egress Amendment Update (with 25-0590) • Land Use - 2025-06-05 Arts and Innovation OSPCD Presentation (with 25-0131 • Land Use - 2025-06-05 Arts and Innovation SomerNova Presentation (with 25-0131)