Committee Report - Land Use - 4-3-18 — File 205481

Land Use Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 4/12/2018 April 3, 2018 REPORT OF THE LAND USE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Lance L. Davis Chair Present William A. White Jr. Vice Chair Present Stephanie Hirsch Alderman At Large Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Present Jefferson Thomas ("J.T.") Scott Ward Two Alderman Present Ben Ewen-Campen Ward Three Alderman Present Jesse Clingan Ward Four Alderman Present Mark Niedergang Ward Five Alderman Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present Mary Jo Rossetti Alderman at Large Present Wilfred N. Mbah Alderman at Large Present Others present: Planning Board members Kevin Prior, Joseph Favaloro, Rebecca Lyn Cooper and Michael Capuano, George Proakis - OSPCD, Dan Bartman - OSPCD, Rositha Durham - Clerk of Committees. The meeting took place in the Aldermen’s Chamber and was called to order at 6:20 PM by Chairman Davis and adjourned at 9:15 PM. A joint public hearing for all interested parties will be held by the Planning Board and the Board of Aldermen’s Land Use Committee to receive public comments concerning the following: 204953: Requesting the adoption of a New Zoning Ordinance (1/2018 update) to supersede the current Zoning Ordinance as originally adopted on March 23, 1990. Today’s meeting was to receive verbal testimony from the public. It was noted that the current ordinance is approximately 28 years old. There were over 100 residents in attendance for the public hearing for the new zoning ordinance. Many were in support and against the ordinance. Each speaker was given 2 minutes to speak, with a 30 second warning. Speakers were asked to state their names and address. The meeting was video recorded for public viewing. It was suggested by the chair that residents could also submit their comments in writing to the City Clerk.

Land Use Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 4/12/2018 There were many comments of concern from the public such as: parking, air quality, open space/green space, housing opportunities, family sized houses, 2/3 family homes, and affordable housing. There were more concerns of maintaining property value, improving quality of life, low income, employment opportunities, housing next to transit, and carbon monoxide. Additionally, comments were stated on no more than 4 unrelated people in a house. Many residents appeared from the Washington and Beacon Streets intersection with a petition to propose that the new zoning ordinance is not cooperative with SomerVision. Packets were handed to both boards. Other residents stated they have lived in the same house for 35 years and is in support of cooperative living. There were some from businesses in Somerville who were in support for Zone Smart Somerville’s position where people can work and live near the same area. Residents talked about affordable housing, with some condo’s priced at $675,000 . One resident sang her message “Who will buy the street we live on” commenting that main streets are treated as corridors and invite developers to fill in every spare space. The oral public testimonial closed tonight. Both Planning Board and Land Use Committee will keep the written testimonial portion open until May 25th. There are two more public meeting with the Planning Board staff on April 12 and 19. Check the City’s calendar on the website for specific time and meeting locations. The next Land Use meeting is 5/1/18. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE Handouts: • Petition-1 re Beacon St (with 204953) • Petition-2 re Beacon St (with 204953) • Written Testimony as of 4-3-18 (with 204953)