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Public hearing notice October 1

 By Bill White
Former Somerville City Councilor for 24 years

I have previously written articles about the impact of the City’s current zoning ordinances that promote developers to purchase two and three-family homes, demolish them and then construct a luxury three-family condominium.

They can also build a large backyard cottage of 1,500 sq. feet and 1.5 stories tall, only three feet away from the property lines of neighbors. I discussed how this policy was creating the removal of rental units from the market and their replacement by luxury condominiums.

In fact, I introduced zoning amendments to limit these abuses to our residential neighborhoods. These amendments were not voted on so they have expired. The Mayor has now chosen to submit new zoning that will worsen the situation.

Instead of limiting the Backyard Cottage to 1.5 stories, the Mayor wants them to go up to three stories tall only 3 feet away from your property line. Instead of a size of 1,500 square feet, the Mayor now wants to increase the Backyard Cottage to 1,750 square feet.

It is now important for Somerville renters and Somerville homeowners in our residential neighborhoods who don’t want three story gargantuan monstrosities 3 feet from their property line to join forces and oppose this proposed zoning. Since the implementation of the new backyard cottage zoning in 2022, the City has lost 470 rental units in two and three family buildings.

This policy has been a disaster for renters. There are now more luxury condominiums in the City than there are total rental units in all of our three-family buildings. Should the new zoning submitted by the Mayor pass, then it will further incentivize the continuation of the current trend. For renters, it will become even more difficult to find apartments to rent, though I am sure the well-off will be blessed with a multitude of new luxury condominiums to choose from. And for those lucky enough to find an apartment, with the supply of rental units reduced, rent increases will surely exceed the 8.9% increase in rent this year.

As someone who has practiced land use and zoning law in Somerville for decades, I can tell you the Mayor’s proposal is among the worst zoning proposals I have ever seen. If the City Council approves it, then shame on them. But shame will not be the worst outcome. That will be the destruction of the mixed community that elected officials have worked so hard to create over decades.

Renters and home owners in our residential neighborhoods should unite and let the Mayor and city councilors know that you are against this proposal. The public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 pm. You can also attend virtually https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w4XWFI4xSJiZyeF2VAG26A

An artist’s rendering of the future follows. Use your imagination for what will replace it.