Early May 2022

MBTA Communities Law

This week, the Land Use Committee & Planning Board took up further discussion of the new MBTA Communities Zoning Law, which requires cities served by the T to legalize building multifamily housing without special permits in an area of at least 50 acres. (That's not as big as it sounds: a circle with a radius of a half mile is 500 acres). Almost every community in Eastern Massachusetts will be required to make some changes, including Somerville.The Globe reports that in some places, there's been substantial pushback, but not in Somerville. The Land Use Committee and the city Planning Department acknowledge that Somerville could probably adjust the Assembly Square district to allow it to be built by right—now that it's already been built with special permits—and technically comply with the rules. Fortunately, they're looking into several other options that would actually allow for the creation of additional housing, most notably: 

• Allowing triple-deckers by right in some or all Neighborhood Residence areas

• Allowing housing as a use by right in some or all Midrise areas

The city will also have to do away with the "no more than more than four unrelated people in a home" rule, but that's something we ought to do anyway.

The exact changes are yet to be determined. More importantly, they will need to decide whether to make those changes citywide, just within 50 acres of one station, or some middle ground is still up for discussion. The Land Use Committee doesn't seem interested in doing the bare minimum, and they want to make sure that changes are made equitably. Councilor McLaughlin in particular felt that it would be better to allow increased density in multiple places rather than a single location, and we agree. In fact, we'd like to see these same zoning changes applied to at least 50 acres around every T station. Better yet, they should apply to everything within a half mile of one, like we do for our other transit-oriented parking and development regulations.The city is required to come up with a plan by the end of the year, but they anticipate doing so much sooner. We'll keep you posted on further developments.

Event: Transportation for MA Forum with Joe Curtatone

On May 9, Transportation for Massachusetts will be hosting a forum discussing what the legislature and administration must do now to accelerate the transition to clean and equitable transportation and help Massachusetts meet its targets to reduce carbon pollution. Joe Curtatone, now President of the Northeast Clean Energy Council, will be among the distinguished panelists.

Register here

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Gilman Square Community Meeting

For people who can't make evening meetings, the city also has a community meeting about

Gilman Square planning 

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Wednesday, May 11 at 12:00 noon. If you live or work nearby, drop in and share your input on the future design of transportation, business, homes and green space in the square.