Beat Reporter

(Part 3) 61 Medford Street. Liquid Nitrogen tank at Biogen, safety concerns, approved. 13A Beacon. Expand windows, replace other windows. Approved. 26 Wheatland St. Condo construction without permit, halt order. Triple permit fee charged. 24 Fairmount. Permit to rectify a basement apartment, never legal. Accepted staff recommendation. 162 Highland. Vote to reaffirm previous rate.

[ August 30, 2010; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] This is the regular meeting of the MBTA Rider Oversight Committee, which provides recommendations to the MBTA to improve service quality. Somerville’s use of public transit, already high, will increase as the Green Line Extension and Assembly Square Orange Line stop come in.

(Part 2) Public hearing on Ocean State Job Lot at 299 Broadway. Four in favor, twelve against. One report of possible grocery store. Written testimony accepted until noon Friday, August 27. Discussion to resume Thursday, Sept. 2, at 6 PM.

(Part 1) The Planning Board voted 5-0 to DENY the special permit to subdivide One Benton Road to add a second condo development for the reason that no conditions could assuage the issues of public safety, devaluation of neighbors’ property, previous character of the site, and scale. [COMMENT: The city evidently expects litigation as a result of this decision.]

Second community meeting. Mixed response from neighborhood. Some felt something was better than nothing, others thought we should stick to the new zoning plan. Key point: minimum 10 year lease, could be as long as 25 years. City expects change in neighborhood in 10 years, after Green Line comes in.

[ September 20, 2010; 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This is the regular monthly meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The Strategic Planning staff is drafting the Comprehensive Plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

[ September 2, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This is the regular meeting of the Somerville Planning Board. This meeting will deal with an ongoing and sometimes controversial Somerville development, Ocean State Job Lot at 299 Broadway. The Planning Board holds public hearings and grants permits for special districts, such as Planned Unit Developments.

[ August 30, 2010; 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] This forum features Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation to the Obama Administration. Accessibility is an important requirement for the new Green Line Extension and Orange Line T-Stops.

[ August 25, 2010; 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] This is the regular meeting of the Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA, which provides input to the MBTA on issues of handicapped access to public transit. The MBTA is under court order to improve handicapped access to MBTA facilities. Somerville’s need for accessible public transit is bound to increase as the Green Line Extension and Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop come in.

[ August 24, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This is a rescheduled meeting of the Somerville Planning Board. The original meeting was scheduled 8/19. This meeting deals with ongoing and sometimes controversial Somerville developments: One Benton Road and Ocean State Job Lots at 299 Broadway.

[ August 17, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This meeting was called by Ocean State Job Lot to reintroduce themselves as a potential tenant at 299 Broadway, the former Star Market site. The previous meeting did not elicit public support. This meeting is worth attending because this use is inconsistent with the new Winter Hill zoning, could tie up the site for a long time, and could affect local property values.

[ August 10, 2010; 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Currently the Steering Committee is working on policies and actions to implement the plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

This meeting was devoted entirely to passing the proposed modifications to the Preliminary Master Plan for Assembly Square. The Planning Staff had asked Federal Realty to generalize the use mix from Office and R&D because Somerville zoning has a very narrow definition of Office use. Federal Realty widened the definition to include all Somerville uses under special permit. The Planning Board stated that in the absence of any opposition, they would waive the reading of the 70 conditions and voted to approve the changes to the PUD. Some citizens present had expected to have a period for written comment before the vote.

This meeting was held at 6:30 at the State Transportation Building, around the corner from the Boylston T-Stop. A half-dozen officials from the Federal transportation authorities were present, along with some translators (never called upon) and a half-dozen or so members of the MPO. Only about a half-dozen members of the public showed up, all from Somerville.

299 Broadway (Ocean State Job Lot): Case postponed. 90 Hudson Street: Granted unanimously. One Benton Road: Heard testimony of traffic study, hearing to be reopened, Executive Session to be scheduled to deal with litigation strategy. 67 Florence St.: 2/3 variances denied. 16 Browning Road: Variance allowed unanimously. Historic Group C Designation: Approved with understanding that a person who wants out should say so and BOA is to investigate the case and decide.

The Beat Reporter Project was begun in Spring 2010 to help Somerville residents keep up with what the city and state governments are doing. Government boards from the Board of Aldermen to the Metropolitan District Commission are covered by the Open Meeting Law, but no one has time to go to everything. Often important decisions are made with no one from the public present. We’ll start small and cover as much as we can, taking our inspiration from Jadwiga Forbes, a long-time Somerville activist who saw government as a participatory sport.

[ July 28, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] The Boston MPO must be certified by the federal government in order for the Boston area to receive federal funding for transportation improvements. Citizen input is an important part of this process.

[ September 9, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the fourth in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

[ August 17, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the third in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

[ August 3, 2010; 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the second in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

[ July 20, 2010; 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. ] This is the first in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Safe pedestrian and bicycle access is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop and new Green Line stops.

At issue was consolidating an undesignated historic property at 221 Morrison Avenue (near Davis Square) with two previously designated properties on Morrison (222 and 197) to form the Morrison Avenue Historic District. The two owners of 221 Morrison Ave. were present to testify in favor. Passed after discussion. Question addressed of why designate single buildings? Answer: easier to execute than a whole street.

[ July 13, 2010; 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] At this meeting we will be discussing the policies and actions derived from the comprehensive plan goals. This meeting is important because Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

[ July 13, 2010; 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. ] This meeting is important because bridges are in need of repair in and around Somerville, and these repairs should include pedestrian and bicycle access.

[ July 15, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because it deals with ongoing and sometimes controversial Somerville developments. At this meeting, the Planning Board is scheduled to hear testimony on the Ocean State Job Lots special permit (a Large Format Retail use at 299 Broadway) and may address the 1 Benton Road special permit.

[ July 6, 2010; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because historic districts on the one hand preserve historic properties for later generations, and on the other hand can prove expensive and inconvenient for property owners in the district.

This meeting was unexpectedly testy. Apparently the neighborhood isn’t convinced that Ocean State Job Lot is the best use for the site. What was said in the meeting is NOT part of the official record. There is a special permit process before Planning Board, including determination of consistency with purpose of zoning. If you want to send written testimony before July 15 Planning Board hearing, send to OSPCD (Rob May), Planning Department, Planning Board. Otherwise, go to Planning Board hearing July 15 @ 6 PM and provide oral testimony.

Controversial cases carried over: 1 Benton Road, Ocean State Job Lot. Other cases: NSTAR employee parking lot, SCC/CASPAR ex-homeless permanent housing, parking variance at 308 Beacon Street. Important discussion of historic preservation policy.

The Somerville School Committee decided in a 5 to 3 vote on Monday, June 21, 2010 to unify the Healey School and charge the School Improvement Council with creating a school redesign plan. This plan will use the Choice program educational practices and governing document as a starting point for discussion. In a second action, the members of the School Committee voted 6 to 2 to define a set of guiding principles to help the School Improvement Council with their Fall 2010 planning work.

[ July 18, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] This workshop sponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is intended to train volunteers to join MyRWA’s water quality monitoring program. This important program keeps tabs on the Mystic year round regardless of weather.

[ August 11, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] At this meeting we will discuss the progress of the infrastructure improvements, Ch 91 licenses, and a proposed amendment to the Assembly Square Master Plan. This meeting is important because it provides a last chance to weigh into the development process at Assembly Square.

[ June 30, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because this use could tie up the site for a long time and affect local property values.

Construction starting right now on roads and infrastructure at and around Assembly Square. IKEA not to start construction until after Spring 2011. Planned improvements to Kensington Ave. pedestrian crossing from Stop & Shop to Assembly Square.

There was some good news tonight for school custodians, at the city budget hearing at City Hall. It was announced that the mayor and the custodians’ union is in negotiations, and so it’s possible that the layoff of 49 custodians and outsourcing of their jobs may be avoided.

[ July 23, 2010; ] All citizens of Somerville and Medford should evaluate this document and give feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. Written comments will be accepted until July 23.

[ June 30, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] All citizens of Somerville and Medford should evaluate this document and give feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. Written comments will be accepted until July 23 at holly.s.johnson@state.ma.us.

[ June 24, 2010; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because it deals with ongoing Somerville developments.

[ June 22, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] All hearings on the City Budget are important, because the Budget decides where the money goes.

[ June 21, 2010; 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because it deals with ADA accessibility throughout the MBTA system.

[ June 21, 2010 to July 23, 2010. ] All citizens of Somerville and Medford should evaluate this document and give feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. There will be a public meeting on June 30. Written comments will be accepted until July 23 at holly.s.johnson@state.ma.us.

[ June 28, 2010; 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] This meeting is important because composted Somerville garbage could be used on Somerville gardens, and because 77% of Somerville surfaces are paved.

[ June 9, 2010; 8:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because Somerville Historic Districts are important to maintaining the city’s character and to controlling development.

[ June 9, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] This meeting is important because it deals with ongoing developments at Assembly Square and East Somerville.

[ June 3, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it relates to the ongoing Green Line Extension.

[ June 1, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it deals with citizen-initiated zoning changes.

[ May 22, 2010; 10:00 am; ] This event is important because it puts interesting parts of Somerville, such as the bank of the Mystic, on display.

[ June 12, 2010; 10:00 am; ] This meeting is important because it relates to land use around the new Green Line stations in Somerville and to the forthcoming Comprehensive Plan for Somerville.

[ May 20, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting includes a continuation of the 1 Benton Road case, which has proved controversial.

This Planning Board meeting included continuing hearings on 79-83 Broadway (slightly controversial), 39R Medford St., and 1 Benton Rd. (also controversial). There was also a discussion of declaring properties part of historical districts, sometimes controversial.

[ May 17, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it relates to Green Line Extension economic development around Magoun Square.

Attended meeting. Ald. Gewirtz, Heuston, Pero, Sullivan present. Staff including Monica Lamboy and representative of City Solicitor present. Also Joe Grafton of Somerville Local First, Tom Bent of Chamber of Commerce.

Personally, I was very impressed with the quality and civility of the conversation we had and the enthusiasm we developed around our idea for organizing a community-wide event.

Depending upon the agenda, the Committee on Housing and Community Development may make decisions fundamental to Somerville’s future. Meetings of the Aldermen as a whole usually deal with important issues.

[ May 6, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] This meeting is important because it deals with ongoing Somerville developments.

[ May 3, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] Depending upon the agenda, the Committee on Housing and Community Development may make decisions fundamental to Somerville’s future.

Attended Planning Board meeting 4/15/10. About 12 citizens attending. Printed agenda marked “Modified”. IKEA waterside permit voided. MaxPac plan changes. Argument over residential density and the tax base. Antennas on residential bldgs provide revenue, but come with safety concerns. Permit streamlining.

The AGO, through its Division of Open Government is requesting public comment on proposed alternatives to the notice posting requirement in the Open Meeting Law. Comment should be submitted by April 23, 2010.

[ April 15, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] Planning Board Meeting

Thurs. Apr. 15, 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda Not Available (4/11/10)

This is the regular meeting of the Somerville Planning Board. The Planning Board holds public hearings and grants permits for special districts, such as Planned Unit Developments.

Depending upon [...]

[ April 8, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] 2010-2011 HUD Action Plan Public Hearing

Thurs. Apr. 8 6:30 PM

Ralph and Jenny Center
9 New Washington St.
Somerville MA

[Facility is near the corner of Inner Belt Rd. and New Washington St. (map)]

Flyer (PDF)

This is the public hearing on the HUD Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant program, the Emergency Shelter [...]