Land Use Committee

Virtual

Agenda — 27 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 1/29/25 at 10:00 AM)
2. 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair McLaughlin at 6:33pm and adjourned at 7:43pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Clingan, and McLaughlin), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Councilor Wilson joined the meeting at 6:39pm. The committee went into recess at 6:34pm and returned at 6:35 on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Clingan, and McLaughlin), 0 opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Wilson). The committee again went into recess at 7:00pm and returned at 7:01pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Sait, Wilson, Clingan, and McLaughlin), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Others present: Samantha Carr - City Council Land Use Analyst, Andrew Graminski - Planner, Dan Bartman - Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager.
3. 2 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_ZuR40J6bQ2Cgq3DCtwt4tQ 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 November 21, 2024. 24-1680 Accepted Pass
6. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Joint Meeting with the Planning Board of December 5, 2024. 24-1766 Accepted Pass
7. 3. Public Hearing
8. 3.1. Horace-Ward LLC, Bealm Realty, LLC, Delhi Properties, LLC, and Delhi Properties ll, LLC requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 11 Horace Street, 5-7, 9, 13, and 15 Ward Street, and 15 and 21 South Street from Mid-Rise 4 (MR4) to Mid-Rise 6 (MR6). 24-1584 Kept in committee
9. 8 Recommendation Needed
10. 4. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2.1 and 11.1 of the Zoning Ordinance to improve the regulation of bicycle parking. 24-1448 Recommended to be approved Pass
11. 5. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Section 3.2.6 Building Types of the Zoning Ordinance to allow the building types permitted in the Neighborhood Residence (NR) zoning district to also be permitted in the Urban Residence (UR) zoning district. 24-1447 Recommended to be approved Pass
12. 11 Requested to be Withdrawn
13. 6. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Articles 6, 9, and 10 of the Zoning Ordinance to establish a new Research & Development zoning district. 24-1544 Recommended to be placed on file
14. 7. 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. 24-1461 Recommended to be placed on file
15. 14 For Discussion
16. 8. 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
17. 16 Place on File
18. 9. Planning Board conveying recommendations for items #24-1447 and #24-1448. 25-0120 Recommended to be marked work completed
19. 10. Planning Board conveying recommendations for items #24-0679 and #24-0680. 24-1280 Recommended to be marked work completed
20. 11. Planning Board conveying recommendations for item #24-0416. 24-0854 Recommended to be marked work completed
21. 12. Greentown Labs submitting comments re: items #24-0680 and #24-0679, a Zoning Map and Zoning Text amendment to create the Somernova Innovation Sub-Area. 24-1577 Recommended to be marked work completed
22. 13. 95 individuals, including 61 residents, along with Cambria Hotel, Aeronaut Brewery, and Union Square Main Streets submitting comments re: items #24-0680 and #24-0679, a Zoning Map and Zoning Text amendment to create the Somernova Innovation Sub-Area. 24-1256 Recommended to be marked work completed
23. 14. 3 residents submitting comments re: item 24-0679, a Zoning Text amendment to create the Somernova Innovation Sub-Area. 24-1221 Recommended to be marked work completed
24. 15. 4 individuals submitting comments re: item #24-0551, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to add Section 8.5 Interim Planning Overlay District (IPOD) and the Brickbottom sub-area. 24-1091 Recommended to be marked work completed
25. 16. Susan Lee submitting comments re: items #24-0680 and #24-0679, a Zoning Map and Zoning Text amendment to create the Somernova Innovation Sub-Area. 24-0919 Recommended to be marked work completed
26. 17. 13 individuals, including 9 residents, submitting comments re: items #24-0680 and #24-0679, a Zoning Map and Zoning Text amendment to create the Somernova Innovation Sub-Area. 24-0899 Recommended to be marked work completed
27. 25 Referenced Documents: • Land Use 2025-02-20 Zoning Map Amendment (with 24-1584)