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Some Sense pushes for zoning reform
Members of the
neighborhood group Somerville Citizens for Sensible Development (Some
Sense) appeared at a joint hearing before the Planning Board and
members of the Board of Alderman's Land Use Committee for the first
time last night since submitting a series of zoning amendments in
January that propose removing the Zoning Board of Appeals' authority to
award special permits.
“We hope that you will do more than just review these ordinances,” said Teri Swartzel, Some Sense spokeswoman. “We feel they are reasonable and no less than what we deserve in Somerville. We hope you will adopt them.”
One of the group's proposed amendments, which seeks to “correct a serious flaw” in the zoning ordinance that “allows the true applicant(s) for special permits or variances to hide behind this loophole and not disclose themselves,” prompted Hancock Street resident David Dahlbacka to come before the board.
“We hope that you will do more than just review these ordinances,” said Teri Swartzel, Some Sense spokeswoman. “We feel they are reasonable and no less than what we deserve in Somerville. We hope you will adopt them.”
One of the group's proposed amendments, which seeks to “correct a serious flaw” in the zoning ordinance that “allows the true applicant(s) for special permits or variances to hide behind this loophole and not disclose themselves,” prompted Hancock Street resident David Dahlbacka to come before the board.
“The disclosure of conflicts of interests is an ethical no-brainer,” he
said. “The people who are putting in for permits should at least
disclose who they are.”
Dahlbacka, who is not a member of Some Sense, said he attended the hearing after seeing the amendment listed on the agenda.
“It shouldn't be something that has to be put in an ordinance,” he said. “I'll speak in favor for that reason.”
Referring to the amendment during her comments to the board, Swartzel pointed to a recent decision by the ZBA to approval a controversial hotel project on Beacon Street despite the fact that the application lacked the name or address of the applicant.
“The need for this ordinance is immediate,” she said. “Recently there was a project before the ZBA where this very issue was brought up.”
Controversial plans for a senior housing project on Park Street prompted two of the five amendments, which suggest the city create a more restrictive residential district on parcels of land situated in Ward 2 and require projects of a certain size to submit water and sewer tests performed by independent engineers.
“Recent proposals have not been keeping in character with the rest of the neighborhood,” said Properzi Way resident Josef Tracy. “In the Park Street matter...we would have liked for the Planning Board to have more resources in vetting the proposal.”
Planning Board member Michael Capuano posed the city's lone question to Some Sense members, questioning whether other communities vested permitting authority in their councils and boards of alderman instead of a ZBA. When Swartzel gave Newton and Cambridge as possible examples, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston requested further information on the issue.
“I'd be interested to see how they do it,” she said. “I'd be very interested in that.”
Planning Board chair Kevin Prior announced that the public would have until noon on Friday, March 12 to submit written comments. The board will discuss the amendments and vote on them at its March 18 meeting.
Swartzel said her organization would encourage the public to submit comments and join forces with other neighborhood groups to strengthen its outreach efforts.
“We have generated a bit of heat around both issues and we will continue to create heat,” she said. “We realize there are other groups struggling with zoning and we're going to get in touch with these people to bring a little more accountability and openness to the zoning policy in the city.”
Dahlbacka, who is not a member of Some Sense, said he attended the hearing after seeing the amendment listed on the agenda.
“It shouldn't be something that has to be put in an ordinance,” he said. “I'll speak in favor for that reason.”
Referring to the amendment during her comments to the board, Swartzel pointed to a recent decision by the ZBA to approval a controversial hotel project on Beacon Street despite the fact that the application lacked the name or address of the applicant.
“The need for this ordinance is immediate,” she said. “Recently there was a project before the ZBA where this very issue was brought up.”
Controversial plans for a senior housing project on Park Street prompted two of the five amendments, which suggest the city create a more restrictive residential district on parcels of land situated in Ward 2 and require projects of a certain size to submit water and sewer tests performed by independent engineers.
“Recent proposals have not been keeping in character with the rest of the neighborhood,” said Properzi Way resident Josef Tracy. “In the Park Street matter...we would have liked for the Planning Board to have more resources in vetting the proposal.”
Planning Board member Michael Capuano posed the city's lone question to Some Sense members, questioning whether other communities vested permitting authority in their councils and boards of alderman instead of a ZBA. When Swartzel gave Newton and Cambridge as possible examples, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston requested further information on the issue.
“I'd be interested to see how they do it,” she said. “I'd be very interested in that.”
Planning Board chair Kevin Prior announced that the public would have until noon on Friday, March 12 to submit written comments. The board will discuss the amendments and vote on them at its March 18 meeting.
Swartzel said her organization would encourage the public to submit comments and join forces with other neighborhood groups to strengthen its outreach efforts.
“We have generated a bit of heat around both issues and we will continue to create heat,” she said. “We realize there are other groups struggling with zoning and we're going to get in touch with these people to bring a little more accountability and openness to the zoning policy in the city.”
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