Land Use Committee

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 21, 2024 6:30 PM This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair McLaughlin at 6:30 pm and adjourned at 6:47 pm with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilor Wilson, Councilor Pineda Neufeld, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Davis and Chair McLaughlin), none absent, and none opposed. Others present: Dan Bartman – PPZ, Stephanie Widzowski – Clerk of Committees. Roll Call Present: Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson 1. Committee Approval of the Minutes of the Land Use Committee Meeting of February Minutes 15, 2024. (ID # 24-0186) RESULT: ACCEPTED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Wilson 2. Public Five residents submitting comments re: proposed Zoning Ordinance Climate Communication & Equity Innovation Sub-Area Overlay District. (ID # 24-0112) RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED 3. Public Gregg Donovan requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to change the zoning Communication district of 321 Washington Street from Fabrication (FAB) to Commercial (ID # 24-0059) Industry (CI). Councilor Ewen-Campen recused himself from this item. Dir. Bartman announced that due to negative feedback received from the public, the Planning Board has formally given no recommendation. He added that the Administration does not support removal of the FAB district in general and does not recommend any change related to this item. Councilor Davis moved that the committee recommend the item be not approved. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE NOT APPROVED Page 1 of 2 Land Use Committee Meeting Minutes March 21, 2024 AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Wilson 4. Mayor's Request Requesting ordainment of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinances to (ID # 24-0037) amend Article 9: Use Provisions, and the Permitted Uses tables of all zoning districts, to establish a Recreational Camp for Children use within the Recreational Services use category. Councilor Ewen-Campen cited noise concerns among others from residents and asked how the Recreational Camp use would relate to school zoning. He then asked about other options for locating camps, which led to a discussion on the impact of camps on neighborhoods. Dir. Bartman reiterated that there would still be means for addressing operations if there are any issues. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld and City Councilor At Large Wilson The following item (23-1306) has been WITHDRAWN by the applicant. 5. Public Mai Lau, 635 Somerville Avenue LLC, requesting the adoption of an Communication amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to change the zoning district of (ID # 23-1306) 627 Somerville Avenue from Neighborhood Residence (NR) to Mid-Rise 3 (MR3). RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE WITHDRAWN Page 2 of 2