Matters ▸ Attachment
AI Subarea & Alternative Compliance Amendment 2025.01.20 — File 25-0131
Somerville Zoning Ordinance
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8.4 MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (MPD)
8.4.8 Development Standards
a.
Sustainable Development
i.
Laboratory Commercial Buildings must be LEED Platinum certifiable.
ii.
All other building types must meet the following:
a). No on-site combustion for HVAC system operation;
b). No on-site combustion for cooking equipment, excluding Eating & Drinking Establishment principal
uses; and
c). Be certifiable as:
i).
Zero Carbon or higher from the International Living Future Institute; or
ii).
PHIUS+ from the Passive House Institute US or Passive House Institute.
iii. All new principal building types must include a green roof, photovoltaic (PV) devices, or both for 100%
of the roof area not occupied by building systems equipment or required outdoor amenity spaces.
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8.4.19 Arts & Innovation (AI) Subarea
a.
Intent
i.
To implement the Arts & Innovation subarea urban design framework adopted by the Planning Board.
ii.
To redevelop a former industrial complex with primarily commercial development.
iii. To support the arts & creative economy of Somerville by producing new space for the creation, display,
exhibition, and production of the arts.
iv. To support the climatetech-oriented research & development cluster of Union Square's urban
employment center.
b.
Purpose
i.
To provide an efficient permitting process for multi-phased master planned development.
ii.
To permit denser development than would be otherwise permitted in an underlying district for master
planned development.
iii. To permit uses by right that are otherwise permitted by Special Permit in an underlying district for
master planned development.
iv. To permit residential uses for master planned development.
v.
To require a minimum percentage of developed floor space to be set aside for occupancy by non-
residential principal uses.
vi. To constrain the supply of motor vehicle parking spaces to encourage the use of public transit, bicycles,
and walking in lieu of driving.
vii. To establish a parking space performance standard that is connected to the results of transportation
demand management programs and services.
c.
Applicability
i.
This Section is applicable to all real property shown on Map 8.4.19 (a).
ii.
Development blocks (“Blocks 1-4”) are established as shown on Map 8.4.19 (a).
d.
Development Review
i.
Development of real property as a contributing lot is prohibited.
ii.
Any pre-application meetings required for development identified in phase one (1) of any master plan
subject to this section may be conducted concurrently with any pre-application meetings required for
the Master Plan Special Permit application.
iii. Site Plan Approval and Special Permit applications for development identified in phase one (1) of any
master plan subject to this section may be submitted simultaneously with the application for the Master
Plan Special Permit.
iv. In addition to the review criteria for all Site Plan Approval specified in §15.3.2.e. Review Criteria, the
review board shall make findings considering the following:
a). Consistency with the approved Urban Design Framework for the sub-area where the subject
property is located.
b). Conformance with any approved Master Plan Special Permit and any other Special Permits
applicable to the subject lot.
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Map 8.4.19 (a) Subarea Boundary and Development Blocks
e.
Master Plan Standards
i.
Master plans must include a development site with a minimum land area of two-hundred and fifty
thousand (250,000) square feet.
ii.
At least ten percent (10%) of the development site, excluding thoroughfares, must be provided as two
(2) or more civic spaces.
iii. At least twenty-five percent (25%) of any motor vehicle parking spaces must be provided with electric
vehicle charging stations and the remaining seventy-five percent (75%) of any motor vehicle parking
spaces must be ready for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
iv. At least eighty-five percent (85%) of the total proposed gross floor area must be provided to non-
residential uses.
a). Lodging uses are calculated as a residential use.
b). At least two percent (2%) or forty thousand (40,000) square feet, whichever is more, must be
provided as leasable floor area for Business Incubator principal uses.
c). At least ten thousand (10,000) square feet must be provided as leasable floor area for Community
Center principal uses.
d). At least eight percent (8%) of the total proposed non-residential gross floor area must be provided
as leasable floor area for Arts & Creative Enterprise principal uses.
i).
At least forty thousand (40,000) square feet must be provided as leasable floor area for Arts
Exhibition principal uses.
ii).
At least twenty thousand (20,000) square feet must be provided as leasable floor area for
Artist Studios & Creative Incubators principal uses.
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e). The Planning Board may permit up to thirty-seven and one-half percent (37.5%) of the total
required Arts & Creative Enterprise floor area to be provided as an in-kind off-site contribution or
an in-lieu payment by Special Permit in accordance with Section 12.3 Buyouts & Payments.
i).
Required floor area for Arts Exhibition and Artist Studio & Creative Incubator uses is exempt.
f).
In addition to the review criteria for all Special Permits specified in §. Review Criteria, the review
board shall make findings considering the following in its discretion to approve or deny a Special
Permit authorizing an in-kind off-site contribution or payment in lieu of floor space required for
Arts & Creative Enterprise uses:
i).
If the in-kind contribution of floor space is a net benefit to the public or if receipt if an in-lieu
payment is advantageous to the City in creating or preserving floor space for Arts & Creative
Enterprise uses as compared to the floor space that would have otherwise been provided.
g). The total proposed non-residential gross floor area must equal at least three hundred and seventy-
five (375) square feet of non-residential gross floor area for each proposed dwelling unit, rooming
unit, or live/work studio.
f.
Thoroughfare Network
i.
Required or recommended thoroughfares are shown on Map 8.4.19 (b).
ii.
The center line of any thoroughfare may be moved up to twenty (25) feet from that indicated.
g.
Civic Spaces
i.
Required or recommended civic spaces are shown on Map 8.4.19 (b).
ii.
A through block plaza connecting Tyler Street/Properzi Way to Park Street must be provided within the
required civic space area shown on Map 8.4.19 (b).
Map 8.4.19 (b) Thoroughfares & Civic Spaces
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h.
Building Standards
i.
More than one (1) principal building is permitted on each lot.
ii.
In addition to the building types permitted by any underlying zoning district, the following building types
are permitted:
a). General Building, in accordance with the standards of the High-Rise district.
iii. The standards of Table 8.4.19 (a) supersede the standards for permitted building types.
iv. Buildings may deviate by up to five percent (5%) from the numeric value of the following standards by
Special Permit.
a). Green Score
b). Front Setback (min/max)
c). Blank Wall (max)
d). Commercial Space Depth (min)
e). Upper Story Step-Back (min)
Table 8.4.19 (a) Superseding Building Standards
General
Building
Commercial
Building
Building Setbacks
Curb Setback (min)
No min
No min
Primary & Secondary Front (min)
Tyler Street
No min
No min
Properzi Way
No min
No min
Dane Street
Block 1, 1st & 2nd Story
No min
No min
Block 1, 3rd story & higher or 50ft & higher
30 ft
30 ft
Block 3, 75ft & higher
30 ft
30 ft
Side
No min
No min
Rear
No min
No min
Massing & Height
Floor Plate (max)
No max
No max
Ground Story Height (min/max)
15 ft
15 ft 25 ft
Upper Story Height (max)
No max
No max
Number of Stories (max)
No max
No max
Upper Story Step-Back
Tyler Street, 3rd Story or 50 ft (min)
10 ft
10 ft
Properzi Way, 3rd Story or 50 ft (min)
10 ft
10 ft
Park Street, 4th Story or 75 ft (min)
No min
10 ft
Building Height, Feet (max)
Block 1
130 ft
130 ft
Block 2
165 ft
165 ft
Block 3
200 ft
200 ft
Block 4
200 ft
200 ft
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Table 8.4.19 (a) Superseding Building Standards
General
Building
Commercial
Building
Use & Features
Commercial Space Depth (min)
20 ft
20 ft
i.
Use Provisions
i.
Unless otherwise specified, uses that are not permitted by the underlying zoning district remain
prohibited.
ii.
Upon the approval of a Master Plan Special Permit:
a). Uses permitted by Special Permit in any underlying zoning district are permitted by-right.
b). Residential Housing uses including, but not limited to, Artist Housing are permitted by-right.
j.
Development Standards
i.
Outdoor loading facilities are exempt from Section 10.7.2 Loading Facilities.
k.
Parking & Mobility
i.
The maximum number of off-street parking spaces in the AI sub-area may not exceed seven hundred
and fifty (750) motor vehicle parking spaces.
a). The Planning Board shall regulate the maximum number of off-street parking spaces included in
any individual building using a parking demand model established by the Director of Mobility to
determine the appropriate number of parking spaces as a condition of each Site Plan Approval.
b). The Planning Board may attach conditions and limitations that it deems necessary to address any
individual or cumulative on-site or off-site impacts of from development subject to an approved
Master Plan as a condition of each Site Plan Approval.
ii.
Mobility management plans must propose demand management programs and services to control the
percentage of trips made to the development site by motor vehicles at forty percent (40%) or less
initially and at twenty-five percent (25%) or less upon full occupancy.
iii.
Mobility management plans must propose and commit to implementing specific adjustments to existing
programs and services or specific additional programs and services if monitoring and reporting identifies
a shortfall in achieving the plans stated transportation objectives.
iv.
Commercial parking facilities must provide monthly reporting of parking utilization.
v.
Property owners and businesses must provide quarterly reporting of the travel behavior of residents
and employees.
l.
Development Benefits
i.
The leasable floor area of a Community Center principal use is deducted from the calculation of gross
floor area for development subject to Section 12.2 Linkage.
m.
Public Realm
i.
For any lot abutting a sidewalk that is less than twelve (12) feet in width, the frontage area must be
paved to provide a sidewalk that is at least twelve (12) feet in total width.
a). This sidewalk may be provided as the pedestrian walkway of an arcade building component.
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12.3 BUYOUTS & PAYMENTS
12.3.1 General
a.
The in-lieu payments and other buyouts methods of alternative compliance of this Section are prohibited
unless specifically authorized elsewhere in this Ordinance.
a.b. In-lieu payments and other methods of alternative compliance authorized elsewhere in this Ordinance are
prohibited unless corresponding criteria are established in this Section.
12.3.2 Compliance
a.
The Building Official may not issue any Certificate of Occupancy for development until any authorized
fractional buyout or, in-lieu payment, in-kind contribution, or other form of alternative compliance has been
made in accordance with this Section.