Rezoning study of Broadway in East Somerville and Winter Hill

1. Rezoning Broadway:
Winter Hill to East Somerville
Community Meeting
May 7, 2009
Monica R. Lamboy
Executive Director
OSPCD

2. Strengths of Broadway Corridor
• Excellent transportation access: Rail, Road, & Bus
• Active community & business groups
• Distinctive neighborhood character
• Strong p
g public health system
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• Diversity of residents and businesses
• Many families
• Hi
Historic corridor
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3. Existing Challenges
•CCurrent l
t laws iimpede expansion or
d i
redevelopment
• Limited public open space
• Imbalance between vehicle,
pedestrian, bicyclist
• Underdeveloped p
p parcels
• Disconnected neighborhoods
• Limited off-street parking
• Residential neighborhoods impacted
by I-93

4. Why Rezone Broadway?
• Access to existing & future rapid transit stations
• Key opportunity sites on large parcels in critical
locations
• Enable existing and potential businesses to
grow compatibly with residential neighbors
• Broadway is an important commercial corridor
• Increased opportunity for access to transit
• Ongoing Resurgence through Main Streets
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• Large parcels hold potential for redevelopment

5. Process to Develop Proposal
• Kickoff Meeting - November 2008
• Four (4) Focus Group Meetings
• Developed vision for area
• Evaluated blocks & sites for redevelopment infill or preservation
redevelopment, infill,
• Reviewed zoning alternatives
• Rezoning proposal drafted
• 2nd Community Meeting - March 2009
• 3rd Community Meeting - May 7, 2009
• Submit proposal to Board of Aldermen – May 14, 2009 (tent.)

6. Vision for Broadway Corridor
• Safe, vital streets with daytime and nighttime
activity
• A mix of businesses that would be attractive to
nearby residents
• Economic revitalization
• Green spaces as well as plazas
• Green buildings
• Reduced zoning burden
• Creation of a gateway to the City

7. OSPCD Key Organizing
Principles
1. Facilitate development in opportunity areas
Redevelop underutilized areas
Infill development where appropriate
Preserve existing development character in areas
2. Respect transition between commercial &
p
residential districts
3.
3 Balance circulation amenities
Pedestrian-friendly uses and building design
Reduce parking requirements

8. OSPCD Key Organizing
Principles
4. Ensure design q
g quality and compatibility
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Design guidelines for each area
Upper levels of buildings set back and smaller
5.
5 Provide greater certainty to applicants &
abutters
Clear standards
No waivers
Most intensive review for new construction
6. Encourage sustainable development
Green building incentives in certain districts
Promote pedestrian and bicycle activity

9. Zoning Proposal
• Expand Residence C District (RC)
• Establish Corridor Commercial District (CCD)
• Establish Transit Oriented Districts (TODs)

10. Residence C (RC) District
Purpose:
To establish and preserve medium density neighborhoods of
one-, two-,
one two and three family homes free from other uses
three-family homes,
except those which are both compatible with and convenient
to the residents of such districts.
Characteristics:
Permitted Uses:
1-, 2-, & 3-family by right;
Multiple dwellings by special permit;
Some commercial uses under 5,000 s.f. by right;
Some commercial uses by special permit
Maximum Height: 3 stories or 40 feet
Maximum FAR: 2.0
Setbacks: 15’ front; 20’ rear; variable side

11. Corridor Commercial District
Purpose:
To manage development along heavily traveled transportation
corridors,
corridors especially where those corridors meet at commercial
squares.
Objectives:
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• Dovetail transportation and economic development
• Encourage mid-rise co
cou age d se commercial mixed use de e op e
e ca ed development
• Discourage inappropriate auto-oriented uses
• Promote pedestrian and bicycle activity

12. Corridor Commercial District (CCD)
FAR –3.0
3.0 Height – 55 ft
Characteristics
• Flexible changes of use according to “Use Clusters”
• Commercial ground floor
• Continuous street wall
• Small commercial bays
• Infill development
• Reduced parking requirements
• Payment in lieu of parking

13. Transit Oriented Districts
Purpose:
To encourage mixed-use transit-oriented development with well-
designed pedestrian access near transit connections and
commercial squares.
Objectives:
j
• Facilitate a mix of uses that contribute to a vibrant business
environment and increase street-level activities
• Redevelop vacant or underutilized land with appropriate
density mixed use development
•I
Increase the supply of affordable housing
th l f ff d bl h i
• Encourage sustainable development

14. Transit Oriented District 55 (TOD 55)
FAR – 3.0 Height – 55 ft
Purpose:
To allow for mixed-use development opportunities in
close proximity to existing lower-density residential
lower density
neighborhoods. Where mapped in commercial squares,
development is anticipated to be a mix of commercial and
residential uses. Where mapped on local serving streets,
development is anticipated to be predominantly residential in
nature.
Characteristics:
• Mid-rise primarily residential environment
• Creates buffer for residential neighborhoods
• Reduced parking requirements

15. Transit Oriented District 70 (TOD 70)
Non-Green
Non Green FAR – 3 5
3.5 Height – 55 ft
Green FAR – 4.0 Height – 70 ft
Purpose:
This
Thi moderate-density sub-district shall complement nearby
d td it b di t i t h ll l t b
existing developments and serve as a gateway to higher-density
districts. Pedestrian oriented uses are often required in this sub-
district l
di t i t along major public streets t encourage activity at th
j bli t t to ti it t the
street level.
Characteristics:
• Pedestrian oriented requirement supports street level activity
• Upper level step back after 55 ft height
• Green building incentive
• 5% arts related uses
• 15% affordable housing

16. Pedestrian Oriented Requirement
• Identify blocks that need specific requirement for
p
pedestrian uses: 35% or 65%.
• Pedestrian Uses include:
•Small or large retail and service;
•eating and drinking establishments;
•parks and open space;
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•rapid transit facilities; and
•municipal uses.
• Will allow space for lobby and entry to parking.

17. Proposed Map Amendment

18. NEXT STEPS
• OSPCD to draft Staff Report for submission to the
Board of Aldermen
• Board of Aldermen will refer the proposal to the
Planning Board and BOA Land Use Committee
• A joint hearing of the Planning Board and Land Use
Committee must be held by July 18 2009
18,
• Abutters, community members and property owners
will be able to provide testimony at the joint hearing
hearing.
• Planning Board and Land Use Committee submit
their recommendation to the Board of Aldermen

19. Thanks to Focus Group!
Walter Pero
Carrie Dancy
Ellin Reisner
Joe Grafton
Bill Roche
Alfred Dellicicchi
Jeff Takle
Denise March
Erika Tarlin
Stephen Martorano
Anne Tate
Sandra McGoldrick
Lynne Thompson
Cecily Miller
Ken Totah
Ian Newton
Peter Tsourianis

20. CONTACT INFO
Monica Lamboy, Executive Director mlamboy@somervillema.gov
Madeleine Masters, Planning Director
g mmasters@somervillema.gov
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Rob May, Director of Economic Devt rmay@somervillema.gov
Steven Azar, Senior Planner sazar@somervillema.gov
Christopher DiIorio, Senior Planner cdiiorio@somervillema.gov
Lori Massa, Planner lmassa@somervillema.gov
OSPCD
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
617-625-
617-625-6600 x 2500
www.somervillema.gov