Matters ▸ Attachment
Combined Small Business Amendments_revised — File 212306
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| SOMERVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE
08/20/21
2. Glossary & Overview
Glossary
Cladding
Clearance
Co-Working
Commercial
Commercial Farming
Commercial Parking
Commercial Space
Vehicle Repair & Maintenance
Community Center
Community Farming
Community Gardening
Comprehensive Plan
Consumer Goods
Corner Board
Cornice
Community or Group Residence
Cost Burden
Cost Burden, Severe
Court
Creative Incubator
Creative Studio
Culinary Incubator
Cultivar
Curb Cut
Data Center
Day Care Center, Adult
Day Care Center, Child
characteristics, including the interrelationship between the intended uses, size,
landscape design, and abutting real property.
The exterior material that covers or overlays another material or structure.
The height above the sidewalk or other surface, as specified, of the bottom edge
of an object or building component.
An Arts & Creative Enterprise principal use category. See §9.2.2.d Co-Working.
A term collectively defining permitted uses from all non-residential use
categories, excluding parking.
A specific use type of the Farming principal use category (See §9.2.13.a.i
Commercial Farming) and a specific use type of the Urban Agriculture accessory
use category (See §9.2.14.d.iii Commercial Farming).
A specific use type of the Vehicle Parking principal use category. See §9.2.6.m.iii
Commercial Parking.
One (1) or more rooms for the exclusive use of a specific tenant(s) separated by
demising walls from other commercial spaces or building common areas.
An Auto-Oriented principal use category. See §9.2.3.a Vehicle Repair or
Maintenance.
A Civic & Institutional principal use category. See §9.2.5.a Community Center. A
specific use type of the Farming principal use category. See §9.2.13.a.ii
Community Farming.
An Urban Agriculture principal use category. See §9.2.13.b Community
Gardening.
The City of Somerville's official plan providing guidance and direction for
future decision making that affects local government policy and community
development as approved by the Planning Board per M.G.L. 41, 81d.
A Retail Sales principal use category. See §9.2.12.b Consumer Goods.
Flat vertical exterior casings framing siding or shingles at inside and outside
corners.
The molded and projecting horizontal member that crowns an architectural
composition.
A specific use type of the Group Living principal use category. See §9.2.11.b.i
Community or Group Residence.
When a household pays more than thirty percent (30%) of its income for
housing.
When a household pays more than fifty percent (50%) of its income for housing.
An open, uncovered space, unobstructed to the sky, bounded on three or more
sides by exterior building walls or other enclosing devices.
An organization providing startup and early-stage arts and creative enterprises
with shared facilities and often providing business planning, access to finance,
mentoring, and other business or administrative support services.
A specific use type of the Home Occupation accessory use category. See
§9.2.14.c.ii Creative Studio.
An organization providing start-up catering, retail, and wholesale food businesses
with shared kitchen facilities and often providing business planning, access to
finance, mentoring, and other business or administrative support services.
A cultivated variety of tree; deliberately selected for its desirable physical
characteristics.
A section of sidewalk curbing removed to facilitate vehicular access to a
driveway or vehicular entrance to a parking structure.
An Industrial principal use category. See §9.2.8.b Data Center.
A specific use type of the Day Care Services principal use category. See
§9.2.6.h.i Adult Day Care Center.
A specific use type of the Commercial Services principal use category. See
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2. Glossary & Overview
Standards & Measurements
for each building type and is calculated as a
percentage of the area of a facade.
i). For buildings with ground story commercial
spaces, ground story fenestration is
measured between two (2) feet and twelve
(12) feet above the finished floor of the
ground story.
ii). For all other buildings and all other stories,
fenestration is measured independently for
each story, from the top of a finished floor
to the top of the finished floor above.
b). Fenestration enclosed with glazing may be
included in the calculation if it meets the
following criteria:
i). For ground story fenestration, glazing must
have at least sixty percent (60%) Visible
Light Transmittance (VLT) and may have
up to fifteen percent (15%) Visible Light
Reflectance (VLR).
ii). For upper story fenestration, glazing must
have must at least forty percent (40%) VLT
and may have up to fifteen percent (15%)
VLR.
ii.
Blank Wall Area
a). Blank wall area is any portion of a facade
that does not include fenestration (doors and
windows) and surface relief through the use of
columns, cornices, moldings, piers, pilasters,
sills, sign bands, other equivalent architectural
features that either recess or project from the
average plane of the facade by at least four (4)
inches.
b). Blank wall area limitations apply both vertically
and horizontally for all stories of a building for
any facade.
b. Use & Occupancy
i.
Pedestrian Access
a). Buildings must have at least one (1) principal
entrance. Principal entrances must be located
on the facade, provide both ingress and egress,
and be operable at all times.
b). Multi-story buildings with ground story
commercial spaces must have at least one (1)
principal entrance for each commercial space in
addition to any principal entrance(s) necessary
for accessing the upper stories.
c). Principal entrance spacing is measured as the
distance between center line of doors along a
facade.
d). All residential buildings developed after the
adoption date of this Ordinance must provide
at least one (1) zero step entrance at the front,
side, or rear of the building. Per Article VI of
the Code of Ordinances, City of Somerville,
Massachusetts, reasonable accommodation
may be requested to comply with this
standard.
e). Light wells may be provided within the
frontage area to provide light and access into
lower stories or to accommodate a change in
grade across the front of a building.
f). The frontage area of a lot may be terraced
to accommodate pedestrian access where a
change in grade exists across the front of a
building.
ii.
Habitable Space Depth
a). Ground story dwelling units must have habitable
space at least twenty (20) feet in depth,
measured as the distance from the facade
towards the interior of the building.
iii. Ground Story Commercial Space
a). Any building fronting a pedestrian street
must provide one (1) or more ground story
commercial spaces for one hundred percent
(100%) of the total width of the building,
excluding lobbies for upper story uses, means of
egress, and any building systems rooms.
iv. Commercial Space Factor
a). When specified for a building type, the
required minimum number of ground story
commercial spaces is calculated by dividing the
building width at the primary facade by the
commercial space factor indicated.
v.
Commercial Space Depth
a). The depth of a commercial space is measured
perpendiculary from the facade toward the
interior of a building.
b). The leasable floor area of any ground story
Figure 2.4.5 (c) Commercial Space Depth
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SOMERVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE |
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8. Overlay Districts
Small Business (SB)
8.2
SMALL BUSINESS (SB)
1. Intent
a. To implement recommendations of SomerVision for
commercial development.
b. To create, maintain, and enhance locations appropriate
for neighborhood- and community-serving businesses.
2. Purpose
a. To permit neighborhood- and community-serving
commercial uses providing for the frequently recurring
needs of local residents for real property in underlying
residential districts.
b. To use discretion in permitting the occupancy of
commercial spaces over five thousand (5,000) square
feet in leasable floor area for real property in underlying
residential districts.
c. To require multiple ground story commercial spaces
for real property in underlying mid-rise, high-rise, and
commercial districts.
3. Applicability
a. The section is applicable to all real property within the
Small Business overlay district as shown on the maps
of the Official Zoning Atlas of the City of Somerville.
b. The provisions of this Section supplement or
supersede the provisions of the districts upon which it
is superimposed.
c. Where the provisions of this Section conflict with
those found elsewhere in this Ordinance, the
provisions of this Section apply.
4. Neighborhood Residence & Urban Residence
a. Applicability
i.
This section is applicable to the establishment,
change, or expansion of the use of real property.
ii.
Development may comply with all of the applicable
provisions of this Section in lieu of complying with
those same provisions of the underlying zoning
district.
b. Use Provisions
i.
Use categories are permitted as specified on Table
8.2.4 (a) in addition to the use categories permitted
by the underlying zoning district.
ii.
Occupancy of any commercial space over five
thousand (5,000) square feet in leasable floor area
by any permitted use requires a Special Permit.
a). In addition to the review criteria for all Special
Permits specified in §15.2.1.e. Review
Criteria, the review board shall make findings
considering the following in its discretion to
approve or deny a special permit authorizing
occupancy of a commercial space over five
thousand (5,000) square feet in leasable floor
area by any permitted use specified on Table
8.2.4:
i). Compatibility with the intensity of activity
associated with the surrounding land uses.
ii). Capacity of the local thoroughfare network
providing access to the site and the impact
on pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular
traffic and circulation patterns in the
neighborhood.
c. Parking & Mobility
i.
Vehicular parking must be provided as specified on
Table 8.2.4 (b), except as follows:
a). Non-residential uses with five thousand (5,000)
square feet or less of gross leasable floor area
are exempt from any minimum requirements
of 8.2.4 (b).
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| SOMERVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE
08/20/21
8. Overlay Districts
Small Business (SB)
Table 8.2.4 (b) Vehicular Parking
*See Transit Areas Map for lots located in a Transit Area
BICYCLE
MOTOR VEHICLE
Use Category
Specific Use
Short-Term
(min)
Long-Term
(min)
Inside a
Transit Area
(max)
Outside of a
Transit Area
(min)
Arts & Creative Enterprise
All Permitted Uses
0.1 / 1,000 sf
0.33 / 1,000 sf
0.8 / 1,000 sf
1.0 / 1,000 sf
Civic & Institutional
All Permitted Uses
0.5 / 1,000 sf
0.1 / 1,000 sf
4 / 1,000 sf
1.0 / 1,000 sf
Commercial Services
All Permitted Uses (except as noted below)
0.4 / 1,000 sf
0.1 / 1,000 sf
1.0 / 1,000 sf
1.0 / 1,000 sf
Business Support Services
--
--
--
0.75 / 1,000 sf
Day Care Service
2 (min)
--
--
0.75 / 1,000 sf
Maintenance & Repair of Consumer Goods
--
--
0.5 / 1,000 sf
--
Personal Services
--
--
0.5 / 1,000 sf
--
Food and Beverage Service
All Permitted Uses
1.0 / 1,000 sf
0.2 / 1,000 sf
0.33 / 1,000 sf
0.5 / 1,000 sf
Retail Sales
All Permitted Uses (except as noted below)
0.4 / 1,000 sf
0.1 / 1,000 sf
1.0 / 1,000 sf
0.66 / 1,000 sf
Farm/Vendor Market
none
none
none
--
sf - Gross Leasable Square Footage
DU - Dwelling Unit
RU - Rooming Unit
Table 8.2.4 (a) Additional Permitted Uses
Use Category
Specific Use
SB
Arts & Creative Enterprises
Artisanal Production
P
Arts Exhibition
P
Arts Sales & Services
P
Design Services
P
Shared Workspaces & Arts Education
P
Civic & Institutional
Private Non-Profit Club or Lodge
SP
Commercial Services
Animal Services (as noted below)
--
Pet Grooming
P
Veterinarian
SP
Building & Home Repair Services
SP
Business Support Services
P
Day Care Service (as noted below)
--
Adult Day Care Center
P
Child Day Care Center
P
P - Permitted SP - Special Permit Required N - Not Permitted
Table 8.2.4 (a) Additional Permitted Uses (continued)
Use Category
Specific Use
SB
Maintenance & Repair of Consumer Goods
P
Personal Services (except as noted below)
P
Body-Art Services
P
Fitness Services
P
Funeral Services
SP
Health Care Services
SP
Food & Beverage Services
Bar, Restaurant or Tavern
SP
Bakery, Café, or Coffee Shop
SP
Retail Sales
Building or Home Supplies & Equipment
SP
Consumer Goods (except as follows)
P
Alcohol Sales
SP
Firearms Sales
N
Pet Store
SP
Fresh Food Market or Grocery Store
P
Farm or Vendor Market
P
P - Permitted SP - Special Permit Required N - Not Permitted
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SOMERVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE |
08/20/21
8. Overlay Districts
Small Business (SB)
Table 8.2.5 Dimensional Standards
Use & Occupancy
Ground Story Entance Spacing (max)
none
Commercial Space Factor (min)
30
Commercial Space Depth (min)
20 ft
5. Mid-Rise, High-Rise, & Commercial Districts
a. Applicability
i.
This section is applicable to the construction of any
new principal building.
ii.
Development must comply with all of the
provisions of this Section in addition to or in lieu
of complying with the provisions of the underlying
zoning district, as applicable.
b. Building Types
i.
ground story commercial spaces must be provided as
specified on Table 8.2.5.
a). Any fractional number resulting from this
calculation is rounded to the nearest whole
number.
b). Apartment Buildings are exempt.
ii. Only one (1) ground story commercial space over
(35) feet in width is permitted to front a pedestrian
street.
5
TU
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
CB
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CC4
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
PS
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
MR4
CC4
NR
NR
NR
UR
NR
MR4
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
MR4
NR
CIV
MR4
MR3
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CIV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
CC4
CIV
MR4
NR
NR
NR
UR
NR
CC4
NR
NR
MR4
CIV
NR
UR
NR
CIV
NR
MR3
UR
MR4
NR
MR4
MR4
UR
MR4
FAB
UR
CIV
MR4
MR3
MR4
NR
CC4
NR
CC3
UR
MR3
MR6
MR4
UR
UR
CC4
MR3
CC4
UR
CIV
UR
MR3
CIV
MR4
UR
CIV
MR4
MR3
MR3
UR
MR3
UR
MR4
MR4
UR
UR
MR4
MR3
NR
NR
CIV
MR4
NR
UR
UR
FAB
CIV
MR3
MR3
MR4
MR3
NR
NR
CIV
MR3
NR
NR
NR
MR3
MR4
MR3
UR
NR
MR4
MR4
MR4
NR
BROADWAY
HOLLAND ST
WILLOW AVE
MORRISON AVE
KIDDER AVE
DAY ST
ELM ST
IRVING ST
LIBERTY AVE
JOSEPHINE AVE
WALLACE ST
HALL AVE
ROGERS AVE
GROVE ST
LOWDEN AVE
PEARSON RD
DOVER ST
CHANDLER ST
BAY STATE AVE
JAY ST
WINSLOW AVE
ELECTRIC AVE
SIMPSON AVE
ORCHARD ST
POWDER HOUSE BLVD
PAULINA ST
MASON ST
COLLEGE AVE
HIGHLAND RD
GORHAM ST
MALLET ST
LEXINGTON AVE
WALKER ST
MEACHAM RD
BROMFIELD RD
OSSIPEE RD
CHESTER ST
HIGHLAND AVE
WEST ST
FOSKETT ST
WHITMAN ST
PARK AVE
APPLETON ST
PACKARD AVE
FRANCESCA AVE
ELMWOOD ST
BURNHAM ST
WARNER ST
KINGSTON ST
WINTER ST
BILLINGHAM ST
LEONARD ST
LOVELL ST
CUTTER AVE
CORINTHIAN RD
CLIFTON ST
HAWTHORNE ST
HOWARD ST
THORNDIKE ST
CAMERON AVE
BUENA VISTA RD
HERBERT ST
NEWBERNE ST
CHAPEL ST
WHIPPLE ST
HENRY AVE
KENWOOD ST
PEARSON AVE
CAMPBELL PARK
BOWERS AVE
POWDER HOUSE TER
WESTMINSTER ST
CADY AVE
LESLEY AVE
LIBERTY RD
VILLA AVE
DAVIS SQ
LESTER TER
MORRISON PL
COLLEGE AVE
BROADWAY
MEDFORD
CAMBRIDGE
SB
Overlay
NR
UR
MR3
MR4
MR6
CIV
FAB
CC4
CB
TU
PS
1
8
6
3
2
7
5
4
9
19
17
18
11
12
10
16
14
15
13
CITY OF
SOMERVILLE, MA
OFFICIAL PROPOSED
ZONING
(UNADOPTED)
²
0
500
250
Feet
Date: December 12, 2019