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Somerville planning board recommends striking optional DEP mitigation clause, sends revised stormwater advice to borough council
Summary
After reviewing the state DEP model ordinance, the planning board voted to recommend that borough council strike the model's optional mitigation provision (section 11) and to keep Somerville's existing definition of "major development," citing implementation impracticalities and resident cost concerns.
The Somerville Planning Board on March 11 reviewed the state Department of Environmental Protection's updated model stormwater ordinance and voted to forward recommendations to borough council that would remove the ordinance's optional mitigation site provision (referred to in the packet as section 11) and retain the borough's existing major-development thresholds.
Mike, the board's staff reviewer, summarized the change in the model: "The model ordinance provides an optional ... to allow mitigation," which would let applicants offset performance standards at alternate mitigation sites. He warned Somerville currently lacks identified mitigation sites and questioned how the requirement could be implemented practically.
Jeff Kaiser, vice chair of the Environmental Commission, urged stronger local standards and more robust green-infrastructure and maintenance language. Kaiser said the state minimums are "just that, minimums," and argued Somerville's flooding reality "often exceeds what a baseline standard accounts for," urging the board to consider lower disturbance thresholds, stricter water-quality measures, and incentives to encourage better on-site practices.
Board members who spoke favored avoiding a requirement the borough could not easily implement. After discussion the board voted to send its recommendations to borough council with a specific instruction to remove the optional mitigation provision (section 11) from the local draft and to keep the current definition of "major development." The motion passed on a voice/roll-call affirmation; the packet and the board's recommendation will go to council for final action.
Next steps: borough council will receive the planning board's recommendation and the packet materials; if council amends the local ordinance it will follow the borough's formal legislative process and public-notice requirements.
