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- Amy Dain MBTA-C Explainer
Amy Dain MBTA-C Explainer
Broadway Star Market & MBTA Communities Updates
For the third Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in a row,
(via webinar). The developers will be discussing the two civic spaces they plan to provide as part of the project, one called Broadway Plaza and one called Sewall Park. The designs of these spaces have been revised after feedback from Somerville’s Urban Forestry division (PSUF), so we are optimistic they'll be pretty good.
There will be once again a chance for public comment, and the ZBA wants to hear from new voices, so if you haven't provided comment on this project yet, please do!
If you haven't spoken at a city meeting before, here's how it works:
When the board says it's time for public comment, click the "raise hand" button on the GoToWebinar app.
When they call on you, you may need to click the "unmute" button.
Give your name and address.
Say what you want. You can take up to two minutes, but there's no minimum. "I like this project because it provides a lot of affordable housing" or "Those public spaces are a major upgrade from the vacant lot" would be plenty!
Say thank you and click the mute button.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The project is scheduled to come back to the ZBA again on February 1 to review the staff opinions and any conditions they plan to require, and then again on February 15 for what we hope is a final vote in favor.
Meanwhile, at the State House
City Council and planning staff are currently discussing the implementation of the MBTA Communities Law, so we'd like to recommend a series of articles about it by Newton-based writer and researcher Amy Dain. They're short, pithy, and clear, which is a remarkable accomplishment for explaining such a convoluted set of rules and regulations:
What the MBTA Communities Law Means for Your Town: Explains the reasons behind the law.
Solving the MBTA Communities Zoning Puzzle: How the calculations work.
Seeking Predictable Permitting: Why by-right zoning matters.
Where Should New Multifamily Housing Go?: A look at the geographical segregation of apartments.
Overcoming Restrictions on Multifamily Housing: Examining the ways towns try to block newcomers, especially people who might have children.
We hope that you find these as informative as we have!
Best,
Somerville YIMBY