[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6554748,"mediaKeyId","5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf","parentId",5019839,"title","Committee recommends R&D and ACE zoning changes; amendment to reduce R&D stories to two fails","audioSeconds",1983,"startMs",4248000,"endMs",6231000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf&start=4248&end=6231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf/thumbnail_4248000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6554748/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-RD-and-ACE-zoning-changes-amendment-to-reduce-RD-stories-to-two-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554748-be7ba8ad4302666018636b5f1be1148e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471482&Signature=K8RoTg5yZcETrgkMtER~GQcYgUV265vi8upIUcO8WsnWu6TU6dZAgvXOxTrDXYLJMaZGFzELPAqdZ0gYrE6eNNN2DVG-g7Pc2OZ3p6bi4dSLDgyF2nead9QSvwHlvlbYgVzaWEpsnSWjZ5b77SA8XtuQwUewFOLA6lNB4R63FZjm3WZddcRi~yIITLJuKi0I0sItaA-uOWQGv7E9KdZlXeHWUdowQa7rj0ypbwnX~Q3U9cdZ-~LH9GkE4nk47HUd4MwZvuLUITHzxpTeKfLNMEObqY7~b-MnqArS7wRjbhNCQjoksG6vZDBN~52KPxeUW8hfvjaL4fjP7PlDDoe2AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-06-18T08:34:00Z","article","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee on June 19 voted to recommend approval of two related zoning items: a proposed Research & Development (R&D) zoning district (agenda item 7, 25-0128) and revisions to Arts and Creative Enterprise (ACE) uses (agenda item 8, 25-0129). The committee debated whether the R&D base district should include a height disincentive and considered concerns raised by the ward councilor about uses that could be permitted in a base district if an overlay were not adopted.

Director Gallegani told the committee he had met with the ward councilor (Councilor Scott) and planners and that a recommended change would be to limit the maximum number of stories in the R&D base district to two to reduce the incentive to develop to the base zoning rather than the overlay. Councilor Davis moved an amendment to delete the existing 'min 2 to max 4' and set a maximum of 2 stories. The motion was called and failed on a roll-call vote (Davis and Saeed voted yes; Wilson, Ewan Kampen and McLaughlin voted no).

Planning staff and the committee clarified that changes in ACE definitions and the recent lab-related amendments were intended to preserve artist space and to allow incubator, coworking, scientific research, testing lab, and some maintenance and personal services uses on the targeted parcels. Director Bartman observed that some of the buildings and uses (e.g., Greentown Labs and affiliated companies) already exist on site; the mapping of the R&D district was intended to reflect those existing uses.

After discussion, the committee voted to recommend approval of both zoning items (agenda items 7 and 8) and forward them to the full council. Councilors voted 5–0 in favor of recommending each item.

The committee recorded that if members or the community remain concerned about base-district outcomes absent an overlay, the council has the legislative authority to further revise the base district language at a later date. Planning staff said wholesale replacement of existing buildings with a two-story development was unlikely because of existing building heights and financial feasibility concerns, though a small number of replacements could theoretically occur.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Land Use - 2025-06-17 - Jun 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Somerville Land Use Committee recommended approval on June 19 of a new Research & Development base zoning district and revisions to Arts and Creative Enterprise rules, but rejected a proposed amendment to limit the R&D district to a maximum of two stories.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554752,"Land use committee backs Arts & Innovation master-plan overlay with required housing and stepback clarifications",3033,1182000,4215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf&start=1182&end=4215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf/thumbnail_1182000.jpg","/articles/6554752/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Land-use-committee-backs-Arts-Innovation-master-plan-overlay-with-required-housing-and-stepback-clarifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554752-568971cf03722024e5b72bb53c389c54/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471482&Signature=TzJz~dOby8h0OmP8ezVF9J-k-ODYLfj0nLGIVgeqm7v-wnfa5rC0zvyJBhHl7QR5Pyyw0PXtZiv-1lj3wev5DwyGflx7qZ4BDsrqyv7vdnMjkShFk39Togg83uuVeBVH412SJ8Z2HRCzymiG-doZuuSI7tc9rnCfCHwJ2ecNl82fKXLq6KLNBbyo5qiuDfR38oiWRsW9Ys8mximD7~-wL6xYVwCCVB5Oqy4gSUoG7xjazt1rM7f~ChEXOye2JJA57BZ3zuosrPZjNigPPnnVU-KdinbJXg8r9vzt5LOrS4xd-MjoVQ6EWmA4E7TD0e43fEdTsoopgnzW~HWn4T2ehQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee on June 19 voted to recommend approval of a proposed amendment to Articles 8 and 12 of the zoning ordinance to create an Arts and Innovation subarea within the Master Plan Development overlay district. Committee members adopted two substantive amendments before forwarding the item to the full council.

Councilor Ewan Kampen moved and the committee adopted language requiring master plans in the subarea to \"include at least 150 dwelling units\" and to limit residential uses to \"no more than 15% of the total proposed gross floor area.\" The amendment passed on a roll call; Councilors Davis, Saeed, Wilson, Ewan Kampen and McLaughlin all voted yes.

Separately, the Union Square Neighborhood Council had requested clarification about where the upper-story stepback occurs in the superseding building standards table (8.4.19A). Director Bartman proposed adding the phrase \"or 75 feet (whichever is less)\" after references to \"Fourth story\" in the table so the stepback is clearly tied to either the fourth story or the 75-foot elevation, whichever comes first. Councilors adopted that amendment by roll call vote.

Councilors and staff discussed public concerns that the proposal could allow lodging or hotel uses; Director Bartman explained that a hotel would require a special permit in the base zoning district and that a master plan would need to describe any hotel proposal and would be subject to discretionary review. Councilor Davis and others pressed that transportation and traffic impacts will be significant and that any future master plan review must include enforceable mitigation.

Councilor Ewan Kampen said the amendment requiring 150 dwelling units was intended to ensure the subarea includes housing rather than remaining entirely commercial. \"I would like to propose an amendment that we require the 150 units of housing,\" he said; the amendment passed unanimously in committee.

After adopting the housing and stepback amendments, the committee voted to recommend approval of the overlay amendment. The recommendation will go to the full council; the committee also noted two related zoning items that will be discussed by the council next week. Committee members said the Urban Design Commission and the Planning Board will play roles in subsequent urban design framework and site-plan reviews if the overlay proceeds.

The committee also reviewed scheduling; the clerk advised the last City Council meeting before the statutory deadline is June 26 and the deadline for action on the matter is June 29. The committee’s recommendation will appear on the City Council agenda for the June 26 meeting.","The committee voted to recommend approval of a proposed Arts and Innovation subarea overlay for a master plan development district, adopting amendments to require at least 150 dwelling units (no more than 15% of GFA) and to clarify upper-story stepbacks. The measure will go to the full City Council for final action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554755,"Committee approves zoning change letting building official waive some egress dimensional standards with ADA caveats",573,346000,919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf&start=346&end=919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf/thumbnail_346000.jpg","/articles/6554755/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-zoning-change-letting-building-official-waive-some-egress-dimensional-standards-with-ADA-caveats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554755-a068fcf4db3061c67e45d51ead4abf14/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471482&Signature=G3w6oRJTgcpBDygzhWNahU7FW7hmIB07UizG74FnNNQAtbCtBOq6fqX4oTEt-R6jc6xG7YyDMYc3EQWjVU5hqzGRLVbaj2r4XKZ5qTgjyJuyO-deRtvRRApZsmt6RViwBucMcm5Du53BYrDkp7LqHhevdYYeHz5Kx~kjv2gQiqCB~LW2JUF7LlSBcdnAreIrdpO7w06ZxCEzkH1UgHPurzGvV9BcViaJ6y6PN3aOIraimdOyrbdtsHciAoRzjfl1AxCR4Uy0Z1aXAOgyh-p3-VpqG6GOViVJohtvUUe5Knk-l5SetqXfGmrffG3-2jXdXK7mmZn9kiTKhsC8QJEeWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee voted unanimously June 19 to recommend approval of an amendment to Article 2 of the zoning ordinance that would permit the building official to waive certain dimensional standards for means of egress, subject to clarified language limiting waiver authority.

Attorney David Shapiro had reviewed the proposed language and recommended two options: a clarification that the ordinance must not conflict with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, and changing the standard wording from \"possible\" to \"feasible without undue financial hardship.\" Shapiro told the committee he believed the language as drafted was lawful but suggested the changes as clarifications.

\"The best thing to do would be to have staff and all the stakeholders get together and talk about that and figure out what are the concerns,\" Shapiro said. He also recommended adding feasibility language in the waiver standard.

Councilor Wilson moved to amend Section 2.4.1(b) to replace the word \"possible\" with the language \"feasible without undue financial hardship.\" The amendment passed on a roll-call vote with Councilors Davis, Saeed, Wilson, Ewan Kampen and McLaughlin voting in favor. The committee then moved to make the same change in Section 2.4.1(c); that amendment also passed unanimously.

After the amendments, the committee voted to recommend approval of the ordinance change as amended. The roll call on the recommendation for approval was unanimous.

Committee members and city staff discussed concerns about preserving compliance with ADA requirements and ensuring the waiver is used only when no reasonable alternative design is feasible without undue hardship. Planning and Inspectional Services staff said the language helps clarify that existing compliant design solutions should be considered before a waiver is granted.

The committee’s recommendation will go to the full City Council for final consideration.","The land use committee voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance amendment allowing the building official to waive certain dimensional standards for means of egress, and amended language to require waivers be allowed only when changes are 'feasible without undue financial hardship.'",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554756,"Land use committee delays YIMBY dormer zoning petition, places item on file",232,116000,348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf&start=116&end=348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6554756/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Land-use-committee-delays-YIMBY-dormer-zoning-petition-places-item-on-file","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554756-dd1bcdeaa23c90edc2a96974e2ac0def/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471482&Signature=asiTh81qU8XH76eF8WiF0AJDQEB-bjcK3-x7QgJoDAq6qaucZpH1hQL4XrTw6X20sDtvJZOnm48UgS7tcawETRgKsnUYaa5L2Mjk0pYBZY8WBRWGY-5yLjB6qqOcEOyQmZBEp19iz3UDPeJRNOKqgr-6GoQVyDbaYVfxo~RWNTXUiBYB8SlcpjXTeZhiBqPXDo6iSVp5TRe75JyiYhaA0nd4ZIs0FYrt7MQt2FV~PL9z9BX~tT62DKHV~vs7ZYUEWj~atSmBPTB8W0-rf6paxN1mapDkXbeTAlE-3d7BuWNiWsFmazJlZji7kUYCOTLzGr3Li5B1YyAJb-dstN9GLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee on June 19 discussed a petition by registered voters to amend several sections of the city zoning ordinance to allow dormer-style additions and related text changes, then agreed to leave the item on the table so staff and proponents can negotiate revisions.

The petition, listed on the agenda as item 425-0200, would amend zoning ordinance sections 3.18.c, 3.19.c, 3.110.c, 3.113.ks, 3.113.l, 3.212.l and 3.212.m. Councilor McLaughlin said he had spoken with Jeff Byrne of the EMB Group, who submitted the petition, and noted concerns raised by Director Bartman and the Planning Board about unintended consequences.

\"My preference was to allow this to play out and allow [the] department to have time to talk to the EMBs and come up with a compromise plan,\" McLaughlin said.

Multiple councilors echoed that view. Councilor Davis said he supported the petition’s goals but favored staff-and-proponent negotiations; Councilor Wilson said he agreed. Councilor Ewan Kampen emphasized the need to move the discussion forward so planning staff are not pressured into a rushed decision.

Clerk staff confirmed that the correct procedural disposition for an item left for future work is to place it on file. At the end of the meeting the clerk said the petition will be placed on file, which preserves the petitioners’ ability to refile within the statutory period.

No final zoning vote was taken on the petition at the committee meeting; committee members directed staff to continue discussions with the petition proponents and signaled willingness to revisit the item in a future meeting.","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee discussed a citizen petition to amend multiple zoning sections to permit dormer-style additions. Members asked planning staff to continue talks with the petition proponents; the item was held for further work and will be placed on file for future resubmission.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554743,"Land use analyst presents zoning-era housing permit data; transit‑oriented bonus proposal remains in committee",48,6352000,6400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf&start=6352&end=6400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019839-a908402aba051e9b7cb3e9cc6f55ccdf/thumbnail_6352000.jpg","/articles/6554743/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Land-use-analyst-presents-zoning-era-housing-permit-data-transitoriented-bonus-proposal-remains-in-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554743-401e97bd16910af82bb63b050d4c765a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775471482&Signature=MA2zRjH4yilqzJBs~cRtPef~2Y0Fc936U3UY-s2m2hyWnqbQG6FE6obrhwCXZvl6X7~Fuzjvh3-hKnGPv5O0uaho08CE4ZTWLoJda~kwu23VYsuF4vKAdA3IPznn-xJneY0uahW3btzkJegMFTO3esqxo6opXHJXWg4a4FoLAw2YWGqVHJVdxm01clUva7NpRIBj5WtK7kTE0Zi2~wi0607ho~EKpai2uaILuTi2WYC0ebg4efYlqwQLbfWcij5dPywoSEeFkJv70rxsMsUgEPpB3~Tx73URHS9JiEQ6Ve-lf2xCMKumLgmmwRh5GC9liygLOK~tTLgSgVBU3ikwTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council Land Use Committee on June 19 received an update from the Planning Department’s land use analyst, Samantha Kyle, on building-permit data since the 2019 zoning update and continued discussion of a proposed zoning amendment that would create transit‑oriented height and density bonuses tied to additional affordable housing and other community benefits.

Kyle presented a year-by-year breakdown of net new dwelling units permitted in the city since 2019 and highlighted which zoning districts produced the most units. She said that in recent years the Urban Residential district and the Mid‑Rise 4 and Mid‑Rise 5 districts produced the most net new units, while some projects were classified as \"other\" because a district was not recorded in the permit data or the prior zoning applied.

Kyle walked committee members through standout projects that drove totals in given years (for example, multi-hundred-unit projects on Revolution Drive and Prospect Street) and explained that elements such as permitting path, allowed building form, and project scale affect where housing is being produced.

Councilors asked whether permitting type (by‑right versus special permit), ground-floor commercial requirements, and other regulatory differences explained the observed pattern. Director Baumann and staff replied that by‑right apartment buildings in Urban Residential districts often have a faster permitting path and can be an economically practical project size, whereas some Mid‑Rise and higher districts are mapped on fewer parcels.

Committee members asked planning staff for additional follow-up on how inclusionary affordable-housing requirements and permitting pathways interact; staff offered to return with more detailed analysis. The committee kept the transit‑oriented bonus item in committee for further work and invited staff to meet with ward councilors on neighborhood-level concerns.

Land use analyst Samantha Kyle and Planning Department staff said they will provide additional breakdowns and follow-up analyses for future committee consideration.","Planning staff presented a breakdown of net new dwelling units permitted since 2019 by zoning district. Urban Residential and certain mid‑rise districts accounted for most recent permits. The committee kept a proposal for transit-oriented height and density bonuses in committee for further work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends R&D and ACE zoning changes; amendment to reduce R&D stories to two fails

Land use committee backs Arts & Innovation master-plan overlay with required housing and stepback clarifications

Committee approves zoning change letting building official waive some egress dimensional standards with ADA caveats

Land use committee delays YIMBY dormer zoning petition, places item on file

Land use analyst presents zoning-era housing permit data; transit‑oriented bonus proposal remains in committee