Minutes - Land Use - 12-5-24 Dispositions — File 24-1744

City of Somerville, Massachusetts Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes Dispositions 6:30 PM Virtual Thursday, December 5, 2024 Joint Meeting with the Planning Board This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Davis at 6:32pm and adjourned at 8:27pm with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Wilson, Pineda Neufeld, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin, Davis), none opposed, and none absent. Others present: Amelia Aboff – Vice Chair of Planning Board, Nicholas Antanavica – Director of Inspectional Services Department, Michael Capuano – Chair of Planning Board, Andrew Graminiski –Planner with Planning, Preservation, and Zoning at OSPCD, Jahan Habib – Clerk of Planning Board, Michael McNeley – Member of Planning Board, Brad Rawson – Director of Mobility Division at OSPCD, Lynn Richards – Member of Planning Board, Neha Singh – Intergovernmental Affairs, Sarah White – Senior Planner with Planning, Preservation, and Zoning at OSPCD, Natasha Frazier – Assistant Clerk of Committees. Roll Call Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson Present: 1. Public Hearings 1.1. 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 Kept in committee 1.2. 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 Kept in committee 2. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 1.1.4, 2.1.1, 3.1.18, 3.2.17, 4.1.15, 4.2.15, 4.3.15, 4.4.16, 5.1.17, 6.1.13, 6.2.15, 6.3.13, 6.4.16, 7.2.9, 7.3.9, 8.2.4.c, 9.2.3, 9.2.6, 11.2.4, 11.2.5, 11.2.6, 11.3, 12.1.7, 15.2.1, 24-1197 Page 1 of 3

Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes Dispositions December 5, 2024 and Table 9.1.1 of the Zoning Ordinance to address various parking requirements. Recommended to be approved as amended Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Wilson Aye: 3. Charles DeCecca requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning district of 501 Mystic Valley Parkway from Neighborhood Residence (NR) to Urban Residence (UR). 24-1367 Recommended to be approved Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Wilson Aye: 4. That the Director of Engineering appear before the Committee on Land Use to discuss how required electrical equipment can modify the plans for already-approved new developments, such as at 379 Somerville Avenue. 24-0790 Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Wilson and Councilor Scott Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed 5. That the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development update this Council on the possibility of receiving additional federal financing for transit-oriented development through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA 49) initiative and the potential eligibility of projects in Somerville. 24-0909 Councilor Wilson and Councilor McLaughlin Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed 6. That the Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning work with this Council to determine how to remove legislative barriers to increasing accessible housing, particularly when residents wish to add accessible features to their home. 24-1213 Councilor Burnley Jr. and Councilor Mbah Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed 7. That the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning collaborate with this Council on updating the Zoning Ordinance to require all new construction to place electrical transformers below ground. 24-1312 Councilor Scott Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed Page 2 of 3

Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes Dispositions December 5, 2024 8. That the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning reconsider the policy of allowing lot splits and mergers as administrative approvals rather than special permits. 24-1315 Councilor Scott Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed 9. That the Administration explore opportunities to utilize the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Communities Catalyst Fund to spur new housing acquisition or production, particularly in the Winter Hill, Gilman Square, and East Somerville neighborhoods. 24-1480 Councilor Burnley Jr., Councilor Clingan, Councilor Davis, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Mbah, Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Pineda Neufeld, Councilor Sait, Councilor Scott, Councilor Strezo and Councilor Wilson Sponsors: Recommended to be marked work completed Referenced Documents: • Land Use - 2024-12-5 OSE Memo (with 24-1312) • Land Use - 2024-12-5 TIFIA 49 Memo (with 24-0909) • Land Use - 2024-12-5 Communities Catalyst Fund Memo (with 24-1480) • Land Use - 2024-12-5 Memo 2024 11 21 PB Recommendations (with 24-1197, 24-1367) Page 3 of 3