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