ICYMI: New Zoning Ordinance Meet and Greet

Somerville, MA, Jan. 27, 2015 – In an effort to gather public feedback on its new proposed zoning ordinance, the City’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development hosted an informational session on Jan. 20at The Arts at the Armory.

“We are bringing new people into this process,” Brad Lawson of the city’s Planning office told the 80 or so people present. “We are plugging our residents and stakeholders in, who have never participated in civic affairs. And isn’t that consistent with Somerville’s identity? Isn’t that how all the great things happening in this community have been built?”

In his presentation, Director of Planning George Proakis discussed some of the priorities of the new zoning, like upping the amount of affordable housing or supporting the city’s arts and “makers” economies.

Participants divided into groups at tables dedicated to specific topics.

“I came specifically to hear about the affordable housing, and how the new zoning ordinance is going to change the affordable housing requirements in Somerville,” Somerville resident Benny Wheat told Somerville Neighborhood News (SNN).

Wheat, who works at a day program for homeless women in Cambridge and Somerville, noted that although she is able to live comfortably as a resident in the city, she felt “emotionally tied” to the issue because of her experience with homeless women.

“I wanted to become better informed about how the zoning ordinance can be used as a tool to improve the affordability of Somerville,” she said.

Somerville resident Irene Lew just bought a house two-family house in the city.

“We currently rent at affordable rent levels to tenants,” Lew, a research assistant at Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, told SNN. “I just want to help make sure Somerville remains affordable.”

Lew told SNN that the evening was informative and helpful.

“I thought it was very transparent. It seems like they really wanted the community to be engaged, and to really participate and get their feedback on the zoning code,” she said.

The new zoning is not official until the Board of Alderman votes it into law, probably in February.

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang attended the meeting in order to learn more before the vote.

“I’m looking for help, to be honest,” he told SNN. “I am not a planner by profession. This is complicated and the more people have looked at the issues and suggestions, the better job I can do when it comes down to vote.”

On February 10th, the Board of Aldermen and the Planning Board will hold a joint public hearing at 6 pm in City Hall on the proposed ordinance.

To learn more – http://www.somervillema.gov/zoning/