By Tom Bannister

Following many months of conversation with stakeholders, local business owners, community activists, and residents, city officials released a draft neighborhood plan for Union Square at a well-attended meeting of the Civic Advisory Committee this past Wednesday.

Around 75 people gathered to hear the city’s presentation outlining key metrics for the proposed redevelopment of Union Square, including capacity for new residential and commercial development, open spaces, affordable housing and job creation.

“This plan articulates a community driven vision for the development of a new employment center, harnesses to transit to improve quality of live and reduce cost of living, addresses significant infrastructure needs, expands the diversity and availability of housing, and takes proactive steps to improve access to public space,” the draft says.

The draft plan is a reaction to changes that are coming quickly to Union Square, and it has given residents an opportunity to weight in and direct that change to meet community priorities.

“Residents and business owners understand that a neighborhood plan for Union Square is a necessary tool to identify real opportunities and concerns related to the impending arrival of the Green Line, “states the report. “Change in Union Square will happen with, or without, this plan.”

The City’s draft plan meets or exceeds all of the standards called for by the city’s master planning document, SomerVision. The plan envisions 3.2 million square feet of new commercial and 2.1 million square feet of new residential space that hits SomerVision’s target of 60 percent new commercial and 40 percent new residential.

The city expects the plan will draw 10,000 new jobs to Union Square, far exceeding SomerVision’s goal of 1,800 neighborhood jobs, a boon for the neighborhood’s current retailers, restaurateurs’ and other small businesses who will see increased business from the surge in daytime activity and additional residents.

Of the 2,500 new residential units that are expected, more than 500 will meet affordable housing standards, meeting SomerVision’s call for 20 percent affordability among new units.

Additionally, the plan calls for a total of more than 12 acres of new public space, a 75 percent increase over the current 16 acres.

The draft plan is the latest step in a long public process that began nearly a year ago with a crowdsourcing event attended by over 150 residents of Union Square. The city subsequently held numerous visioning sessions, community outreach meetings, design charrettes and open houses through the Somerville By Design process to solicit community feedback throughout.

Keri Lorenzo, a third-generation resident of Somerville, praised the plan and the process that led to it. “I think the city and the CAC have done a great job addressing the challenges and opportunities of Union Square,” said Keri. “They have given a voice to anyone who cared to express an opinion, and taken care to incorporate those opinions into a plan that works for all of us.

The plan outlines eight “big ideas” guiding the plan and delves deeply into each one, providing background, context and goals for each idea. Central to Union Square’s redevelopment is cultivating a resilient economy by making Union Square a regional employment center.

Another big idea is the notion of managing change including ensuring equitable change, ensuring attainable housing, and increasing economic mobility. Planners also want to protect Union Square as a “lifelong community.” They focus on ensuring housing of all types, sizes and prices; improving the neighborhood’s family-friendliness; and ensuring the physical and social life of the square appeals to seniors.

The draft plan also delves deeply into plans for public spaces, improving public transportation and accommodating cyclist, and developing “remarkable streets” that are safe and comfortable.

The community’s positive reaction to the plan was summed up by Tori Antonino, an open space advocate, who said “I love the plan.” She went on to explain that she thought the plan reflected the desires to create open space and other amenities and hoped the “master developer would build what was in the plan.

The public has the opportunity to provide feedback to the draft plan through November 30. Go to https://somerville.opencomment.us/ to make comments.