Somerville Upzoned 12 Lots in 2024

My previous post, “Somerville Passed 7 Laws in 2024”, focused on statute (changes to the Code of Ordinances).

This post is about changes to our Zoning Ordinance, the document that governs what can and can’t be built in the city.

These are all the changes that Somerville made to our zoning in 2024:

• Ordinance 2024-01 added “Shared Workspace and Arts Education” to the list of permitted uses in the Powderhouse School Special District. (This “district” covers only the location of the now-defunct Powderhouse Community School, which has since been redeveloped into condos and a park.)

• Ordinance 2024-03 newly allows recreational camps for children in nearly all of the city.

• Ordinance 2024-08 upzones 6 lots (mostly on Highland Ave.) owned by the Somerville YMCA to a Mid-Rise 6 story designation to make it more likely that the YMCA can be redeveloped and modernized. Interestingly, the applicants note “even if this zoning map amendment is approved [which it was], the Project will still require zoning relief. This map amendment merely allows the YMCA to file a zoning relief application for the Project." This may be due to the mixed-use nature of the redevelopment, or perhaps the geometry of the newly-proposed structure.

• Ordinance 2024-09 upzones 4 lots on Pearl Street near the new Gilman Square Green Line stop, allowing for development of 6-story mid-rises instead of just 4.

• Ordinance 2024-12 changes 282 McGrath Highway’s zoning from Neighborhood Residence to Small Business to allow a restaurant to operate there.

• Ordinance 2024-13 permits the operation of Adult or Child Day Cares in ~6 of the zoning districts.

• Ordinance 2024-14 consists mostly of small clarifications and cleanup of the Zoning Ordinance.

• Ordinance 2024-16 upzones 501 Mystic Valley Parkway so that it can be converted from a single-family home to an apartment building.

In total, in 2024 Somerville modestly increased the density of 12 lots in the city.