Building Code Conflicts 20250310 — File 25-0457

Somerville Zoning Ordinance l2.1.1 General Net Zero Ready Building Any building that 1) has no on-site combustion for HVAC system operation and cooking equipment (all electric systems), excluding floor area Eating & Drinking Establishment principal uses, and is certifiable as Zero Carbon or higher from the International Living Future Institute, or PHIUS+ from the Passive House Institute US or Passive House Institute.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 2.4.5.b.vii.a).i). (Uses and Features, Density Factor) The density factor permitted for each building type is different for buildings on different sized lots, net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 3.2.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit detached and semi-detached residential buildings on individual lots. b. To permit contextual modifications to existing detached and semi-detached residential buildings. c. To permit the adaptive reuse of certain existing nonconforming buildings for arts & creative enterprise and retail uses compatible with residential areas. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for both large and small households in permitted building types. e. To permit increased residential density for apartment buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 3.2.10 Apartment Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Mass Facade Composition Facade Build Out (min) 80% Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Facade Build Out Abutting NR (min) 70% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) – With Forecourt 16,000 sf Use & Occupancy Without a Forecourt 7,000 sf Density Factor (min) – Ground Story Elevation (min) 2 ft Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Story Height (min/max) 10 ft 20 ft Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Number of Stories (max) 2 4 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Roof Type Gable, Hip, Mansard Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.1.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit and mixed-use buildings that do not exceed three (3) stories in height. b. To provide quality commercial spaces and permit small- scale, neighborhood serving commercial uses. c. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for larger households in apartment buildings. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for smaller households in general buildings. f. To permit increased residential density for buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.1.7 Apartment Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Facade Build Out (min) – Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Primary Front 80% Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Secondary Front 65% Floor Plate (max) 15,000 sf Use & Occupancy Ground Story Elevation (min) 2 ft Density Factor (min) – Story Height (min) 10 ft Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Number of Stories (min/max) 2 3 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Building Height, Feet (max) 38 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Roof Type Flat Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 t

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.1.8 General Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 80% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 65% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) 15,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Elevation (min) 14 ft Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min/max) 2 3 Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Building Height, Feet (max) 40 ft Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Roof Type Flat Density Factor (min) – Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.2.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit and mixed-use buildings that do not exceed four (4) stories in height. b. To provide quality commercial spaces and permit small- scale, neighborhood serving commercial uses. c. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for larger households in apartment buildings. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for smaller households in general buildings. g. To permit increased residential density for buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.2.7 Apartment Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Facade Build Out (min) – Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Primary Front 80% Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Secondary Front 65% Floor Plate (max) 15,000 sf Use & Occupancy Ground Story Elevation (min) 2 ft Density Factor (min) – Story Height (min) 10 ft Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Number of Stories (min/max) 3 4 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Building Height, Feet (max) 50 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Roof Type Flat Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 t

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.2.8 General Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 80% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 65% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) 15,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 14 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min/max) 3 4 Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Building Height, Feet (max) 52 ft Commercial Space Depth (max) 30 ft Roof Type Flat Density Factor (min) – Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.3.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit and mixed-use buildings that do not exceed five (5) stories in height. b. To provide quality commercial spaces and permit small and medium scale, neighborhood- and community- serving commercial uses. c. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for larger households in apartment buildings. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for smaller households in general buildings. e. To permit increased residential density for buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.3.7 Apartment Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Facade Build Out (min) – Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Primary Front 80% Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Secondary Front 65% Floor Plate (max) 20,000 sf Use & Occupancy Ground Story Elevation (min) 2 ft Density Factor (min) – Story Height (min) 10 ft Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Number of Stories (min/max) 3 5 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Step-Back, 5th Story (min) 10 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Building Height, Feet (max) 62 ft Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof Type Flat Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.3.8 General Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 80% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 65% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) 20,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 14 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min/max) 3 5 Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Step-Back, 5th Story (min) 10 ft Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Building Height, Feet (max) 66 ft Density Factor (min) – Roof Type Flat Lot Area < 5,000 sf 1,500 Lot Area >= 5,000 sf 1,125 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 875 Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.4.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit, mixed-use, and commercial buildings that do not exceed six (6) stories in height. b. To provide quality commercial spaces and permit small and medium-scale, neighborhood-, community-, and region-serving commercial uses. c. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for larger households in apartment buildings. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for smaller households in general buildings. e. To permit increased residential density for buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.4.7 Apartment Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Facade Build Out (min) – Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Primary Front 80% Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Secondary Front 65% Floor Plate (max) 25,000 sf Use & Occupancy Ground Story Elevation (min) 2 ft Density Factor (min) – Story Height (min) 10 ft Lot Area < 6,500 sf 1,125 Number of Stories (min/max) 3 6 Lot Area >= 6,500 sf 850 Step-Back, 5th - 6th Story (min) 10 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 650 Building Height, Feet 74 ft Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof Type Flat Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 4.4.8 General Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 80% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 65% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) 30,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 18 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min/max) 3 6 Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Step-Back, 5th – 6th Story (min) 10 ft Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Building Height, Feet (max) 80 ft Density Factor (min) – Roof Type Flat Lot Area < 6,500 sf 1,125 Lot Area >= 6,500 sf 850 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 650 Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof-mouthed Mechanicals Mechanical Equipment, Screening, Penthouse Height (max) 10 ft

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 5.1.3 Purpose a. To permit the development of multi-unit, mixed-use, and commercial High-Rise buildings. b. To provide quality commercial spaces and permit small and medium-scale, neighborhood-, community-, and region-serving commercial uses. c. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for larger households in apartment buildings. d. To create dwelling unit types, sizes, and bedroom counts ideal for smaller households in general buildings. e. To permit increased residential density for buildings meeting the definition of a both net zero ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable buildings.

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 5.1.7 General Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 200 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 80% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 65% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Floor Plate (max) 30,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 18 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min/max) 3 6 Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Building Height, Feet (max) 80 ft Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Roof Type Flat Density Factor (min) – Lot Area < 7,000 sf 1,125 Lot Area >= 7,000 sf 875 Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 650 Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 5.1.10 Mid-Rise Podium Tower c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Width (max) 250 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) 80% Primary Facade (min) 70% Floor Plate (max) – Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Podium 35,000 sf Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 50% Point Tower 10,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 18 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min) 4 Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Number of Stories (max) – Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Podium 6 Density Factor (min) – Point Tower 18 Lot Area < 7,000 sf 1,125 Point Tower Dimensions (max) – Lot Area >= 7,000 sf 875 Width & Depth 100 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 650 Diagonal 145 ft Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Building Height, Feet (max) – Podium 80 ft Point Tower 260 ft Roof Type Flat

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 5.1.11 Block Building c. Massing & Height d. Uses & Features Main Massing Facade Composition Building Width (max) 500 ft Ground Story Fenestration – Facade Build Out (min) – Primary Facade (min) 70% Primary Front 100% Secondary Facade (min/max) 15% 70% Secondary Front 100% Upper Story Fenestration (min/max) 15% 70% Floor Plate (max) – Residential 15% 50% Podium n/a Commercial 15% 70% Tower(s) 30,000 sf Blank Wall (max) 20 ft Ground Story Height (min) 18 ft Upper Story Height (min) 10 ft Use & Occupancy Number of Stories (min) 3 stories Ground Story Entrance Spacing (max) 30 ft Number of Stories (max) – Commercial Space Depth (min) 30 ft Podium 6 stories Density Factor (min) – Tower(s) 10 stories Lot Area < 7,000 sf 1,125 Building Height (min) – Lot Area >= 7,000 sf 850 Podium 80 ft Net Zero Ready and LEED Platinum Certifiable Building 650 Tower(s) 15 ft Outdoor Amenity Space (min) 1/DU Roof Type Flat

Somerville Zoning Ordinance 10.10.1 Green Buildings Reserved. a. New construction or modification of any principal building type greater than twenty five thousand (25,000) square feet in gross floor area must be LEED Gold certifiable. b. New construction or modification of any principal building type greater than fifty thousand (50,000) square feet in gross floor area must be LEED Platinum certifiable. c. Development subject to the provisions of this Section must meet the standards of the most current LEED building rating system. During the twelve (12) month time period after the adoption of a new version of LEED, permit applications may be submitted demonstrating compliance to either the immediately previous or newly adopted version of the LEED building rating system. d. Development review applications for development subject to the provisions of this Section must include: i. A completed LEED checklist for the appropriate LEED building standard to demonstrate how the proposed development is anticipated to meet the standards of this Section. ii. A narrative indicating the mechanisms proposed to achieve each of the credits and prerequisites of the appropriate LEED building standard and demonstrating the anticipated methods by which compliance with the requirements of this Section will be achieved at the time of construction. iii. An affidavit by a LEED-Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) Project Manager or by appropriate consultants stating that to the best of their knowledge, the project has been designed to achieve the stated LEED building standard. e. Prior to the issuance of the first building Permit and prior to the issuance of the first Certificate of Occupancy, the LEED checklist and narrative description outlining compliance with the certification level required by this Section must be updated to identify any design changes made subsequent to Site Plan Approval and submitted to the building official accompanied by an affidavit by a LEED-AP Project Manager or appropriate consultants stating that, to the best of their knowledge, the project has been designed to achieve the stated LEED building standard.