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Revere zoning subcommittee backs repeal of mechanical parking definition after safety and enforcement debate
Summary
The Revere City Zoning Subcommittee voted 4-1 to recommend that the full City Council repeal the local zoning definition and use permit for mechanical parking systems after members and public speakers raised enforcement and safety concerns.
The Revere City Zoning Subcommittee voted 4-1 Monday to recommend that the full City Council repeal the zoning definition and permitted use for mechanical parking systems, after members and public commenters said the current rule has been exploited by developers and poses tenant-safety risks.
The motion, to offer a favorable recommendation to the City Council to approve an ordinance repealing the definition and use of mechanical parking systems in the city’s zoning code, advanced after about 25 minutes of discussion and public comment. The subcommittee forwarded the repeal despite one member’s objection.
The repeal’s supporters said developers were using the mechanical-parking rule as a loophole to secure approvals and then obtain waivers from the Zoning Board of Appeals to avoid installing the stacker systems that were promised in project plans. “The developers are exploiting the ordinance to get their approvals and then dodge having to install the stackers by way of waivers from the ZBA,” Councilor Kelly said, arguing the policy “is being used as a loophole.”
Kelly also questioned claims that a previously installed stacker would lose property value if classified as nonconforming, saying such assertions require appraisal evidence. “Property values are not solely dictated by conformance to current zoning,” Kelly said, noting other market factors affect value and that nonconforming properties can retain high market value.
At least one member of the public warned of safety risks when rack-and-stack systems are operated by untrained tenants. Marsha Ragusa, of 29 Remedy Road, told the subcommittee she had researched incidents nationally and said tenant-operated systems can be “highly dangerous.” Ragusa cited reported accidents in other jurisdictions as part of her argument for repeal.
The vote to recommend repeal was recorded as: Councilor Regenzio — yes; Councilor Greeno Sawaya — yes; Councilor Jaramillo — yes; Councilor Novosalski — yes; Chairman Zambuto — no. The subcommittee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the full City Council for final action.
The subcommittee noted that the city’s Planning Board had issued a favorable recommendation for repeal, which some members said could influence colleagues on the full council. No appraisals or technical reports on property-value impacts were presented during the meeting. The transcript shows discussion and public comment but no additional technical studies were cited or submitted at the hearing.
If the full council adopts the repeal, the status of existing mechanical parking installations will depend on zoning transition rules and any follow-up guidance from city staff; that topic was discussed but no formal direction to staff or implementation timeline was adopted at the subcommittee meeting.
