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Council refers proposal to allow eight‑story affordable housing and incentivize mass timber to land‑use committee
Summary
Councilors referred a mayoral zoning amendment to expand the affordable housing overlay (including an increase from seven to eight stories and incentives for mass‑timber construction) to the land use committee for further study and a copy to the planning board.
The Somerville City Council voted to refer a proposed amendment to section 8.1 of the zoning ordinance — intended to allow larger buildings, additional dimensional flexibility, and fewer use restrictions for affordable housing projects — to the land use committee with a copy to the planning board.
Councilor Ewan Campan said the changes build on the 2020 affordable housing overlay and are designed to encourage high‑quality, sustainable affordable housing. He cited recent developer feedback and the potential to use mass‑timber construction to make an eight‑story height commercially feasible in some projects.
A remote presenter identified in committee as Gavin Raub (introduced by the sponsoring councilor) told the council mass timber is "durable, sustainable and beautiful" and that raising a height limit from seven to eight stories and offering a density bonus for mass timber could help produce high‑quality permanently affordable housing.
Councilor Ewan Campan asked that the amendment be referred to the land use committee, and the council approved the referral. The item will be considered further by land use and the planning board before any vote on ordainment or adoption.
