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Somerville council introduces housing zoning and approves fees, salaries and inspection‑fee clarifications
Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting the council introduced ordinances creating an affordable‑housing zoning overlay and a zoning affordable‑housing subsection, and unanimously adopted ordinances on public-record service charges, municipal salary ranges and inspection-fee clarifications; council also approved ~$9.52M in bills.
The Borough of Somerville on Feb. 17 introduced and adopted a set of ordinances and consent items during its regular council meeting.
Introductions (motion carried on roll call): - Ordinance 2785: exceed 2026 municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank (introduced; no public comment). - Ordinance 2786: amend zoning code (chapter 102‑95 article 11) to add an "affordable housing" subsection (introduced; council members described it as a historic step toward a formal municipal affordable‑housing program). - Ordinance 2787: create an Affordable Housing Overlay One zone on block 127 lot 4 (Bell Avenue) to provide development regulations supporting affordable housing; sponsors noted ongoing litigation related to the property and said the zoning change is intended to address those issues (introduced).
Adoptions (public hearings opened, no public comment, unanimous roll call votes): - Ordinance 2781: amend chapter 75 (fees) to add a special service charge schedule for records requests and video redaction (adopted unanimously). - Ordinance 2782: amend ordinance 2776‑25‑1103 establishing salary ranges for municipal titles (adopted unanimously). - Ordinance 2783: amend section 80‑7 to clarify additional inspections and fees and that fire‑inspectors are paid per bargaining agreement or salary ordinance (adopted unanimously).
Consent and other actions: Council approved consent items including grant applications and acceptance (Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorder), event approvals (Spartan Spirit 5K and cruise‑night parking), and accepted a Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation grant award item (up to $40,500) per staff memo. Council also voted to pay bills and vouchers in the amount of $9,516,418.91 on a unanimous roll call.
Roll-call notes: For recorded roll calls on introductions and adoptions, the meeting transcript recorded affirmative votes from Council members Andrew Ki, Glenny (recorded variant spellings appear in the transcript), Gina Stravik and Roger Verm on each motion taken during the meeting.
The council adjourned at the close of the agenda.
