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Somerville council adopts EV‑charging ordinance that limits chargers under residential parking decks
Summary
The borough adopted Ordinance No. 2767 (amending Ord. 2661) to authorize EV supply equipment and make‑ready spaces but to prohibit chargers in certain podium or mixed‑use parking decks after fire officials warned EV fires can compromise structural integrity; council removed a sentence with an odd aerospace example before adoption.
The Somerville Borough Council on Sept. 2 adopted Ordinance No. 2767 (amending Ordinance 2661), enacting a new chapter governing electric vehicle supply equipment and make‑ready parking‑space regulations while adding limits on chargers in certain parking decks that put residential units at risk.
The mayor said the change was prompted by a recent 'podium deck' development and by advice from emergency services. "The data nationwide is showing when these things burn, it compromises the structural integrity of a parking deck," the mayor said, adding that firefighter and OEM review recommended precautions for decks that sit beneath residential units. The mayor described EV‑fire response options as limited: "We can't allow this without either an ability for this fire to be put out, which right now there really isn't a way to put out EV fires. It's containment at best." (Mayor, speaker 1)
Council member Andrew Conte questioned how the ordinance would affect existing parking decks and warned that the current language could reduce available EV‑charging capacity. Conte also objected to a specific example in Section 5(d) describing “high heat rated ceramic tile ... used in aerospace industries to protect vehicles entering and exiting orbit,” calling that clause unnecessary and potentially infeasible. "I just don't want folks thinking that's the only solution as it is obviously an extremely expensive one," Conte said. (Council member Andrew Conte)
Conte moved to amend Section 5(d) by removing the illustrative sentence; the amendment was seconded and approved by roll call. The council then opened a public hearing on the amendment, received no comments and voted to adopt the ordinance as amended. Roll calls recorded 'Yes' votes from Council members Andrew Conte, Glenn Dennehy, Randy Pitts and Gina Stravick; members Teresa Bonner and Roger Vroom were excused.
Why it matters: The ordinance attempts to encourage EV charging while preserving life‑safety for residents in mixed‑use and podium buildings. By preventing chargers in parking structures that would place fire risk beneath occupied residential floors unless mitigations are provided, the borough is prioritizing structural/evacuation safety even as it expands EV infrastructure.
What the ordinance does: It authorizes and encourages EV supply equipment and make‑ready parking spaces but includes limits for chargers in parking decks that are under or adjacent to residential uses; it requires any high‑temperature coatings or heat‑resistant systems to be approved by the fire marshal. The council removed an illustrative example in Sec. 5(d) that members considered out of context.
The ordinance was adopted at the meeting; council did not specify an effective date during the discussion.
