All items were held (see Report and watch video on NewTV’s YouTube Channel.
- Discussion and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map re: Village Center Districts (8-0)
Straw votes were taken for the following items:
Affordable Housing Bonus
- Councilors Albright and Wright’s proposal to remove option 2 for a building height and footprint bonus if a property owner provides more affordable housing. Option 2: 2 additional stories and an additional 2,500 sf in building footprint if 30% of the units are deed-restricted as affordable to an average 65% AMI (area median income). This bonus may not be used within 50 ft of a lot line abutting MRT or any existing residential zone and VC3 lots abutting a VC1, MRT, or residential zone are not eligible for the bonus. Option 2 removed 7-1, Councilor Krintzman opposed.
- Councilor Wright’s proposal to allow a property owner to develop a lower percentage of affordable units if some units are made affordable to lower-income households. Failed 3-5, Councilors Crossley, Krintzman, Albright, Danberg, and Leary Opposed.
Parking Requirements
- Councilor Baker’s proposal to require 1 space per unit in the MRT district for new construction. Failed 3-5, Councilors Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Danberg, and Ryan Opposed.
- Councilor Baker’s proposal to require a minimum of 1 parking space per unit in the VC2 and VC3 districts within 50 ft of a residential district, but waivable by special permit. Failed 1-7, Councilors Leary, Albright, Wright, Krintzman, Crossley, Danberg, and Ryan Opposed.
- Councilor Laredo’s proposal to remove bicycle parking requirements. Failed 3-5, Councilors Leary, Albright, Crossley, Danberg, and Ryan Opposed.
- Councilor Wrighte’s proposal to add e-bike safety requirements. Passed 8-0.
- Councilor Laredo’s proposal to retain City Council special permit granting authority for parking waivers. Failed 4-4, Councilors Albright, Krintzman, Crossley and Danberg Opposed.
Dimensional Standards for Buildings
- Councilors Albright, Laredo, and Wright proposed capping the maximum height to the main ridge of a pitched roof in the MRT district to 40 ft. (from 45’). Passed 8-0.
- Councilor Wright proposed to reduce the maximum allowed building footprint in the VC1 district to 3,000 sf. Proposal withdrawn.
- Councilor Wright proposed modifying the size of the half-story in VC2 and VC3 as follows: 3. to increase the setback for a half-story from 7 ft to 10 ft, and 4. to reduce the half-story pitched roof height in VC2 and VC3 to 14 ft from 18ft. Both Passed 8-0.
- “Councilor Wright proposed to reduce the minimum depth of ground floor active uses in VC2 and VC3 to 12 ft from 25 ft. Staff noted their desire to eliminate the active use minimum depth to allow more design flexibility which the committee unanimously agreed.”
- Councilor Wright proposed regulating the unit size to 1,000 sf. Noncompliant with the MBTA Communities Law. Proposal withdrawn.
- Councilor Laredo proposed to change the nomenclature of a half-story and refer to it as “a full story which is set back”. Failed 1-6-1, Councilors Leary, Albright, Krintzman, Crossley, Danberg, and Ryan Opposed, Councilor Baker Abstaining
- Councilor Baker proposed an amendment to reduce the height of the VC2 and VC3 districts by one whole story, but waivable by special permit, noting that more oversight is needed by the City Council. Withdrawn due to opposition.
- Councilor Baker proposed to reduce the maximum height within 50 ft of a residential zone to 3 stories from 3.5 stories. Withdrawn due to opposition.
Dimensional Standards for Sites
- Councilor Wright proposed the front setback be increased from “10 ft or the average of abutting lots, whichever is less”, to 25 ft or the average of abutting lots, whichever is less. The proposal was amended to “20 ft or the average of abutting lots, whichever is less”. Passed 7-0-1, Councilor Wright Abstained.
- Councilor Wright proposed to increase the side setback required in the MRT district from 7.5 ft to 10 ft. Passed 8-0.
- Councilor Wright proposed to increase the side setback when a VC2 or VC3 district is abutting a residential district, from 15 ft to half the building height or 20 ft. minimum. The proposal was modified to change the side setback from 15 ft to 20 ft. and passed 6-0-2, Councilors Albright and Krintzman Abstained.
