Public Hearing on Zoning Change Proposals to Meet MBTA Communities Requirements for Housing Needs

A virtual Public Hearing on the City’s proposals for zoning changes to meet new MBTA Communities law requirements will be held at a joint session of the City Council Land Use Committee and the Planning Board at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 19.  

The Commonwealth’s new Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities law requires that all communities served by the MBTA take steps to amend their zoning to encourage multi-family housing near T stations. The law’s intention is to increase housing unit production and capacity near transit to sustainably address the regional housing shortage in eastern Massachusetts. Lean more at mass.gov/mbtacommunities.  

The City has submitted a proposal to the City Council and the Planning Board to amend zoning in three ways to meet MBTA Communities requirements. The following three proposals would apply across all residential districts to encourage increased housing units and capacity: 

• Remove the four-unrelated persons maximum occupancy rule on housing. The current rule restricts the number of occupants to no more than four unrelated persons. Any restriction on the number of occupants is prohibited by MBTA Communities, and a removal of this measure has previously garnered strong City Council support. All state fire, health, safety and occupancy regulations would remain in effect to support safety and prevent overcrowding.  
• Allow three units by right, which is also required by MBTA Communities.  
• MBTA Communities requires residential construction to be permitted by right, without the need for a special permit. Somerville currently requires a special permit in all zoning districts for any lot with a steep slope. The City is proposing to move to oversight of steep slope construction into existing Engineering review processes.    

 
Attend the virtual hearing online: To attend online and be heard, copy and paste, or enter the following link exactly, into your internet browser to view/attend this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SrJ_ZchATd6lKhkFEHgamQ 

Submit written testimony: If you are unable to attend but wish to be heard, you may provide comments by email to the Planning Board at planning@somervillema.gov and the City Council at publiccomments@somervillema.gov. You may also send comments by U.S. mail to the City Clerk, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143.  

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.